McCalla Co. celebrates 50 years

Founded in 1955 by Lawrence McCalla, Van Nuys, Calif.-based McCalla Company Janitorial Supplies marked 50 years in business in 2005.

The company's principles of "giving technical advice and education to customers and providing free delivery" are still cornerstones of the operation today, and the family connection to the business is strong as ever. McCalla's son Richard and Richard's brother-in-law Larry Phillippe joined the company in 1970. Richard's wife Jean and Larry's wife Jane - twins, as it happens - began helping with the books in 1989.

And as the company looks to the future, Larry and Jane's son Ken and Richard and Jean's sons Craig and Kevin are becoming more and more involved with the company, ready to help take it further into the 21st century.