Our Roots
Preston Hughes, Sr., exchanged this life for an eternal life on Monday, February 20, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. at his residence in Mobile, AL. He was baptized at an early age and educated in Clarke County, AL. After several years of perseverance, he was known as the first licensed African American Master Plumber in South Alabama. He was acknowledged for being a mentor to others throughout the community and city. His work ethic inspired his sons to pursue careers in plumbing with 3 of them going on to become master plumbers.
He attended several churches including Greater Macedonia Baptist Church (Pastor J.D. Haston). He became a member of Mt. Hebron Missionary Baptist Church where he was ordained as a Minister under the leadership of Pastor Gregory Harris. He fathered nine children. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Ernestine Hughes.
Our Founder
Preston W. Hughes III
Mr. Preston W. Hughes, III founded HUGHES Plumbing and Utility Contractors (HPUC) April 1996 in Livingston, AL and later incorporated the business in Sumpter County, AL in October 1997. Mr. Hughes began his business providing local plumbing services for the surrounding areas. After working as, a license plumber, Mr. Hughes went on to obtain his Master Plumbing License in 1998 at the University of Alabama. As the company began to grow, he hired his first employee and oldest brother, Andy Hughes, a Master Plumber. HPUC’s first commercial project was a major plumbing renovation for over 200 units for the Green County Housing Authority. After completing that job, Mr. Hughes began another plumbing renovation project at the Air National Guard in Birmingham, AL. Since that time, HPUC has went on to perform numerous residential and commercial projects; which lead to Mr. Hughes acquiring a general contractor's license in 2000. After acquiring his general contractor's license, he moved his operation to his hometown in Mobile, AL. It was in Mobile that Mr. Hughes’ company gained a reputation of performing some of the most difficult projects for Mobile Area Water and Sewer System (MAWSS). Today the company has performed nearly 300 commercial, municipal, and institutional projects covering multiple areas in the Gulf Coast including, Building Construction, Water Sewer and Storm Water Projects, Levee and Dredge Management, Heavy Equipment Rentals, Video Services, Heavy Civil, Environmental work and more. Recognizing the direction, the company was growing, Mr. Hughes decided to rebrand the company to Hughes Companies, Inc. (HCI) with subsidiaries such as:
- HUGHES Fuels: Supply & Deliver on and off road diesel fuel
- HUGHES Heavy Equipment: Specialize amphibious excavators Rentals with and without operators.
- HUGHES Aggs: We, provide clean, quality crushed concrete meeting 825b Gradation | #57 Gradation | 3/8" Minus Gradation | #4 Gradation
- D.O.T. Dirt: We supply transportation of sand, sand clay, screened top soil, and disposal of debris.
The company went on to win 2 Eagle Awards and Small Business of the Year in 2005 from the Mobile Chamber. HCI holds general contractor licenses in the state of Alabama and Mississippi. The company employs over 25 full time employees with multiple dump trucks, Hydrovac Truck, Video Truck, various Heavy Equipment, and more. HCI has the means to fuel and repair our vehicles with a fulltime ASE Certified mechanic on staff. In his spare time, Mr. Hughes enjoys spending time with his family.
• AL/MS General Contractors Licenses
• Alabama Home Builders Association - Roofing License
• Master Plumber/Master Gasfitter
• Advanced Level II Onsite Waste Water Installer’s Certificate – Alabama
• Certified Xerxes Fiberglass Underground Tank Installer
• Member - Alabama Rural Water Association
• Member -Alabama Onsite Wastewater Assoc.
• Winner - 2005 Eagle Award, MACC
• Small Business of the year in 2004
