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OUR LATEST CHAPTER
Over the past decade Culligan Corporation
has been held by multiple owners,
the most recent of which is Clayton,
Dubilier & Rice, Inc. (CD&R),
a private equity investment firm.
As a result of years of transition,
numerous owners, and the most
recent changes to the Culligan
franchise system it was our decision,
after 65 years as a Culligan franchise,
that we should leave the Culligan
franchise system and become an
independent dealer.
We began as Harris Water Conditioning,
Inc. dba Culligan Water in the
1940’s and we will continue
the tradition as Harris Water
Conditioning, Inc., an independently
owned and operated company serving
our neighbors of Ventura County.
We will continue to supply service
to Culligan equipment that you
may have purchased from us over
the years.
HOW WE BEGAN . . .
During the great depression Mr.
John Harris, moved his family
from Greenville, Texas to
look for opportunities in
the West, settling in Ventura,
California. After a series
of various jobs John Harris
started a family owned business
known as Harris Motors, which
eventually grew to become
the local Ventura Plymouth
and Desoto dealership from
the years 1938 through 1959.
In 1940 at the age of 27, Scotty
Harris – son of John Harris – having
experienced the benefits of soft
water felt a need to share the
benefits of softened water with
his family, friends and neighbors.
Through his excitement and determination
Scotty eventually convinced the
senior John Harris to finance
his plan to purchase a Culligan
Franchise. Hence in 1940 John
and Scotty Harris – father
and son – acquired a large
franchise area which centered
on Ventura, California.
So enthusiastic was Scotty that
he began operating even before
his own soft water regeneration
facility was built. What did he
do? He trucked his units to Santa
Barbara for recharging in the
Culligan dealer’s plant
there, then trucked them back
to his customer. This was doing
it the hard way . . . but not
for long. Upon completion of his
plant Scotty opened up a “Washeteria” and
invited the general public to
wash their laundry in soft water
. . . and do it for free! The
response was terrific, and so
were the results in terms of new
placements of water softeners.
Throughout the 1940’s and
1950’s the water softening
business grew beyond all expectations
and the Harris’ eventually
sold Harris Motors in 1959 to
focus on this expanding interest
and demand generated by soft water.
In 1964, Harris Water Conditioning,
Inc. in conjunction with Culligan
introduced under-the-sink reverse
osmosis filtration for residential
users and commercial industrial
de-ionized water filtration throughout
Ventura County. Through the years
Harris Water Conditioning, Incorporated/Culligan
has expanded through hard work,
personal sacrifice and perseverance.
Mr. John Harris, Sr. actively
worked in the business well into
his 80’s until passing in
1967. Scotty Harris also remained
active in the business until his
passing in 1984. Now in our third
generation of Harris ownership
Mr. Dennis Harris, along with
his mother, Phyllis Harris of
Ventura, California, remain steadfast
as independent owners and operators
of Harris Water Conditioning Incorporated.
On behalf of
our employees and management
we sincerely thank
you for your continued patronage and support
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