Burns, Tommie L., Jr.
(born: 1933 - died: 2019)Tommie L. Burns, Jr. came to Louisville, KY, from Hinds, MS when he was 18 years old, taking a job as a molder at the American Standard plant. While still holding his day job, Burns began cleaning Bacon's department store at night, soon hiring a crew and cleaning all of the Bacon's stores in Shively (a west-end Louisville suburb). Burns eventually quit his day job, incorporating Burns Janitor Service in 1975.
Burns continued to develop other businesses, and by 1992 Burns Enterprises, Inc. had revenues of $17 million. The company consisted of almost 500 employees in six businesses: janitor service, roller rink, chemical and supply, food marts, rigging, and packing, with operations in Kentucky, Maine, New York, Georgia, and Tennessee.
In 1992, Burns was the 69-year-old chairman of T&WA Inc., a company that mounts tires and wheels for automakers. The company, then seven years old, had about $500 million in revenues. In 2001, T&WA Inc. was selected as the Minority Business of the Year at the Greater Louisville Inc.'s Annual Dinner.
Tommie Burns, Jr. was the son of Tommie, Sr. and May Bertha Burns [source: 1940 U.S. Federal Census]. Tommie Burns, Jr. died in Fort Worth, TX.
For more see T. R. Hill, "Sensible Chance Paid Off," Lexington Herald-Leader, 4/3/1994, Business section, p. 3; R. Redding, "Entrepreneur 'Burns' up latest automotive niche. 'Janitor' lands $50 million assembly job at Toyota," bizjournals.com (from 6/20/1997 print edition); and Y. Markstaff, "Wheeling Dealing," Courier-Journal, 9/16/2002, Business section, p. 01C. See also the Tommie L. Burns, Jr. obituary at Find A Grave.