Our History

In 1946, WW Gentry, Sr. started (formerly Gentry Welding and Iron and Steel Specialty) Gentry Steel, Inc. in his garage and back yard, after having worked in the steel industry for most of his career. Four years later, Gentry Steel moved to a location on Calhoun Avenue in Chattanooga, TN. 

Gentry Steel became a family business, with sons Bud and Dan Gentry joining their father in the business in the early 1950’s and Fred joining in the late 1960’s. Dan was responsible for the sales and estimating and Bud ran the shop while also handling purchasing and administration. Upon Mr. Gentry, Sr.’s retirement, Bud became the company president in 1970. While Bud still remains the Chairman of the Board, long-time employee John Pearson is President. 

As Gentry Steel continued to grow and expand, it moved to its current location in 1960 and has grown into a structural steel fabrication leader by responding to its customers’ needs and keeping its facility modernized and innovative. The company purchased the first beam line in 1973 and became only the second company in the US to purchase and use software for detailing and beam line operations. This innovative tradition is continuing today with the recent addition of the Peddinghaus PDC 1100 Multi-Spindle CNC Drill and a Peddinghaus DG 1100 Structural Miter Band Saw and the integrated software. 

Owners and management work side-by-side with employees to produce a quality product at a competitive price. Because of our team’s dedication to quality and customer satisfaction, Gentry Steel, Inc. will continue the long history of success. 

Our Certifications

Gentry Steel, Inc. is certified by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and members of the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), the American Welding Society (AWS), and the (SSPC) Society for Protective Coatings.