Comal Iron & Metals

1969 was when grandfather Pasqual Rodriguez stepped away from a secure truck driving job after the owner refused to increase his pay to $1 an hour. Confident in his knowledge of metal and work ethic, he began Comal Iron & Metals. Pasqual drove his red 1967 GMC truck throughout South Texas collecting metal while his wife, Rosie, worked in a small 10’X10’ building in front of their home buying metal and raising kids. Pasqual passed away at the age of 36 in 1972 leaving behind his wife and 3 children. Rosie, understanding the grit it took to sustain this avenue of business turned to her 18 year old son, Johnnie, and asked if he wanted to run the business.

With foresight and a lot of hard work Johnnie took the business over. Rosie continued working and retired in 1990. Johnnie’s soon-to-be wife, MaryAnn, eventually joined him and steadily grew the business and added two boys to their family. Working long hours by entrepreneurial parents meant the family business was where they did their homework and ate dinner. In the years when kids rode in the front seat and seat belts were optional, Johnnie Jr. and Roger played in old junk cars and went on joy rides on forklifts.