264 A BICENTENNIAL HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI SOUTHERN PIPE AND SUPPLY At the beginning of the twentieth century, a hopeful young Russian entrepreneur named Louis Davidson traveled by sea to the United States. In 1901, the ship docked at Mobile, Alabama, leading Davidson to eventually settle in Meridian. After involving himself in various business ventures over the next decade, Davidson started a scrap-metal company called St. Louis Junk Company in 1918. In 1930, Louis brought his sons, Meyer and Sammie Davidson, into the business, and eight years later, they sold their first full shipment of steel pipe. Due to a steady increase in these shipments over the next year, the Davidsons chose to center their business on the supply of plumbing equipment and change its name to Southern Pipe and Supply Company. Although Meyer and Sammie lacked formal schooling in business procedure and management, they had been exposed to their father’s family-run company all their lives and used this knowledge and skillset to provide quality, customer-friendly service. Meyer’s son, Marty, worked in the store as a young child and went on to run the business beginning in the late 1960s. Marty Davidson currently serves as chairman of the company, while his son, Jay, serves as president. Southern Pipe and Supply Company, with headquarters in Meridian, more than 100 locations in seven states. Through their business, the Davidsons sell a variety of high-quality plumbing, HVAC, industrial, and mechanical equipment to buyers across the southeastern region of the United States. Today, Southern Pipe and Supply continues as a successful family-operated company whose leaders work tirelessly to carry on the legacy of their ancestor, Louis Davidson. PHOTOS COURTESY OF SOUTHERN PIPE AND SUPPLY