San Augustine Main Street

The City of San Augustine Main Street is pleased to announce that Higginbotham Air Conditioning and Sheet Metal will be receiving the prestigious TEXAS TREASURE BUSINESS AWARD for being a family owned and operated business since 1963! That is fifty seven years and counting. The award comes after applying for and researching the local business for its continuous years of service to the local and state economy. Below is the narrative part of the application that was submitted to the Texas Historical Commission and approved for receiving the award.

Higginbotham Air Conditioning and Sheet Metal
By Tracy Cox City of San Augustine Main Street Manager

This business had its beginning in San Augustine in early 1963 with Don and Johnnie Higginbotham and Tommy and Lattie Hunter as owners. It was called H & H Sheet Metal Works. The current owner, Billy Higginbotham is Don’s son and he remembers helping his dad at the shop at the young age of ten. After only a few short years in operation, Mr. Don Higginbotham had a stroke and his health did not allow him to continue to work the air conditioning business. For a time he continued to try working in sheet metal but the partnership ended.
The sheet metal division sold to Louis and Barbara Runnels around 1967, and that business operated as Louis Runnels Construction Corporation.
In 1967, Joe Higginbotham first cousin to Don was able to buy the air conditioning division of the business and he named the business Higginbotham Refrigerant Service.
On July 2, 1993, Billy Don and Deborah Higginbotham purchased the Higginbotham Refrigerant Service from Joe. It included the building and other equipment needed for operating a sheet metal and air conditioning business. The current name is Higginbotham Air Conditioning and Sheet Metal.
These family businesses have been in the same building and location, 306 West Main Street, San Augustine, Texas since 1967. It corresponds to Lot 18, which is mapped out on the Original Town Platt printed in the early 1830’s.
Billy and his wife Deborah have strong roots in San Augustine and have been married for almost 43 years. They live in Broaddus, Texas and have five grown children, Jody, Jeff, Starla, Josh, and Savannah and nine grandchildren. All five children have worked in the family owned business. Currently working along with Billy and Deborah is their son Josh and his wife Darla.
Other interesting facts to note are back in 1956 the building (306 West Main Street) housed a G.I. School for veterans. The school taught hands on carpentry and mechanics skills. Coincidentally Carl W. Horn Sr. attended night classes there and became quite a carpenter. He is the father of Deborah Higginbotham.

The public is invited to join the presentation of the Texas Historical Commission award by the City of San Augustine Main Street to the Higginbotham family at the main stage during the San Augustine County Chamber of Commerce Sassafras Festival Saturday October 24, 2020 at a time TBA in the next Tribune!

Here is a copy of what the award says

TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
PRESENTS THIS
TEXAS TREASURE BUSINESS AWARD
TO
HIGGINBOTHAM AIR CONDITIONING & SHEET METAL
FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED IN TEXAS SINCE 1963
FOR EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS
TOWARD THE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY OF TEXAS

San Augustine Main Street

P. O. Box 25

San Augustine, TX 75972

(936) 201-4307

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Monday through Friday

The mission of the San Augustine Main Street Program is to implement the National Main Street Model Four Point Approach of organization, promotion, design, and economic restructuring to reach the objectives of preserving and promoting historic downtown San Augustine through economic, historic, and cultural revitalization.