Johnson County Pipe affords federal lawmaker ‘hands on’ plant tour

When Representative Roger Williams (TX-25), a key House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member, toured Johnson County Pipe in Alvarado, Texas, he shook hands, observed advanced cage and product machinery, and then took controls to complete a concrete pipe section. His visit was the latest in a series of American Concrete Pipe Association-organized plant tours aimed at underscoring the industry’s commitment to quality production and worker safety, while reinforcing concerns about the federal government’s insufficient infrastructure funding.

Flanked by Thompson Pipe Group Regional Sales Manager Rocky Lorenz (left) and American Concrete Pipe Association President Matt Childs, Representative Roger Williams experiences a product whose long history of extended service life adds up to one of the best values for Highway Trust Fund-supported projects.

“We’re glad Congressman Roger Williams visited our facility and helped elevate the conversation of our failing infrastructure,” said Ken Thompson, president of Thompson Pipe Group, Johnson County parent. “Funding infrastructure replacement, rather than patching repairs when failures occur, saves U.S. taxpayer dollars in the long-term and puts more Americans to work.”

“Serving on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has given me great appreciation for those working to repair our infrastructure,” affirmed Rep. Williams, standing in front of a precast box culvert constructed for the occasion. “As a small-business owner, I enjoyed touring Johnson County Pipe and meeting the people who are making a difference.”

Tour host and Thompson Pipe Group chief Ken Thompson (front row, second from right) mustered the Johnson County Pipe team as Rep. Williams closed out a customized, concrete pipe short course.

“It’s not every day that we get the undivided attention of a member of Congress, so it’s critical to use that time wisely and strategically,” notes ACPA Region Engineer Walt Catlett. Rep. Williams departed the facility talking not about the central Texas heat, he adds, but instead expressed appreciation for the opportunity to meet with the Johnson County Pipe team. “That’s a credit to the excellent work done by Ken Thompson and his staff well in advance,” Catlett affirms.