Ponca City: We Love You

This column features stories from local businesses and individuals who have lived and worked in Ponca City for many years and tells the story of why they chose Ponca City as their home.

By: Kelly Johnson, Quality Water Services

Quality Water Services was started in December of 1945 by Mr. Jack Johnson. He opened his doors in the 200 block of South 1st St. as Softwater Service in Ponca City. It was a new industry for him, as he had left a life career in both the oil and automotive industries.

He brought a new service to Ponca City and the Kay county area, providing water softening to both residential and commercial customers. Representing both ServiSoft and Elgin Manufacturing Companies, Jack was able to offer door-to-door services and introduce the community to better water quality for the home and business.

In 1946 his son Downing Johnson joined his father in the business after graduating from the Oklahoma Military Academy in Claremore, OK. That year, they started representing the Lindsay Corporation out of St. Paul, MN, with residential water treatment equipment. This new line of equipment brought automation to the residential customer, making it more convenient to have soft water in their home.

As the years went by, the company moved to its new location at 204. South 3rd, the company was purchased in the mid-’50s by Downing Johnson, and he became the President of the Ponca City Home Builder’s Association, working with local builders, educating them on how to correctly plumb a new home to accept a water softener. He grew the business by leasing equipment to the customer with a reoccurring service plan, vs. selling equipment. Downing struggled over this decision to lease equipment with his father, as Jack was a salesman in his previous career, and he sold products to his customers. But, that decision and his work with local home builders are truly what established the business for constant growth in the years to come.

In the early ’70s, bottled water was introduced to the market with the brand Mountain Valley Water out of Hot Springs, AR. In 1973 Downing purchased Wright’s Water Conditioning in Arkansas City, KS. Pool Chemicals were added to the product offerings in 1975 and a new company, Pool Services was opened in the Spring of 1979. His son, Kelly Johnson was their first employee that Spring.

Downing also opened two other businesses in the ’80s, Greenlawn Sprinkler Services, and Seamless Siding and Guttering. The decision to open these businesses was a reaction to a potential ban on water softeners that started in California. Though that never materialized, he operated these new businesses for about ten years and then sold them, wanting to refocus his efforts on his water treatment business. Bottled water was a growth business, and a water bottling plant was installed in the early ’80s, introducing the house brand, Just Squeezed Water. In 1993 Downing bought the old Consumers IGA Building East Highland and, within 6 months, started a complete renovation. It would become the new home of Quality Water Services and Quality Pools & Spas. In May of 1994, Quality Water Services opened its first location in Stillwater. In November of that year, his son Kelly Johnson moved back to Ponca City with his wife Cheryl as the Business Manager, seeing through the completion of their new facility.

1995 was the start of steady growth for the business. “We were so fortunate to be the supplier of a Quality Water Services designed a high purity water treatment system for 3,700 Wal*Mart and Sam’s One-Hour Photo Labs across the United States. We learned so much over the ten plus years as a vendor to that group. Our growth also exploded in the pool business in our new location, as we were able to expand our services and product offerings.”

In May of 1995, Kelly & Cheryl Johnson bought the business from his father. “It was a great opportunity for us and a perfect time for Downing to exit the business. We then purchased the Ark City location in January of 2006 from my brother, and after several moves, purchased and relocated our Stillwater location in November of 2011. Our future plans for growth include all three communities and all product lines that we provide, including Water Treatment, Bottled Water, and the Pool & Spa Segments.”

“It’s important to give back to both the industries that we serve and the communities we have the opportunity to do business in.” Kelly is current- ly serving on the Board of Governors for the International Water Quality A s s o c i at i o n based in Chicago, IL, and is serving locally on the Community Action Committee at Phillips66 and is currently serving on the Ponca City Market Board with RCB Bank.

“Both Cheryl and I love Ponca City, as it is a great place to call home. Our community has so much to offer, and many of our customers have become a part of the Quality Water Services Family!”