“James King was one of my first hires when I became McElroy’s plumbing service manager, and he’s always made me happy with that decision,” said Luke Dumler. “James is an all-around excellent plumber with a positive attitude. If I’m worried about a project, I can trust James to take care of it. He’s a problem solver who never gives up on a challenge.” James King marks his 10^th work anniversary with McElroy’s on March 21, 2026. We appreciate James for the trust he has earned through his plumbing skills and reliable solutions.

Inspired About Plumbing

James was born in Emporia, Kansas. While he was growing up, James’ family accompanied his father, Terry, a U.S. Air Force officer, to assignments in England, Germany and Japan. Terry retired from the Air Force when James was 15 and the family moved to Topeka where James attended Washburn Rural. “The coolest guy ever talked to our high-school class about being a plumber, and I was inspired,” James said. “I studied Building Mechanics with a great teacher at Kaw Area Vo-Tech, and finished up after graduating high school.”

Heavy Metal Drummer

At age 19, James started working as a plumber with a small Topeka company. “I did that for a few years, but what I really loved was playing heavy metal music,” James said. “I played drums for a couple of bands: Unmerciful and Origin. As we got more gigs and traveled, I left plumbing and did meaningless side jobs to support my band work.” At age 28, James married his high-school sweetheart, Kelly. “I focused on music for another couple of years, and then decided a real day job was the way to go. I began working in plumbing maintenance for Washburn University.” At age 32, after 10 years of serious drumming, James decided to put down the sticks.

Service Plumber

“I’d heard that for a plumber, McElroy’s was the best place to work, so I put in an application there,” James said. “About eight months later, Luke Dumler called from McElroy’s, and I went in for an interview. I had plenty of experience, and Luke brought me onto his team. I prefer the service side of plumbing more than construction because of the variety. One day I’m fixing a clog in a home and the next I’m repairing pipes in a factory. People think plumbing is just a wrench and a plunger, but it’s much more than that. I work on anything that flows through a pipe, using increasingly sophisticated tools and materials.”

High Confidence

“James is a great plumber because he never backs down from a challenge. He’s a stand-up guy who you can trust to get the job done,” said Shawn O’Malley, McElroy’s plumber, now safety manager. “Customers like the way James tells it like it is. He figures out a challenge, then explains exactly what is going on and what it will take to fix it. Talking customers through a situation, in clear terms they understand, gives people high confidence that they’re in good hands. That’s made James a plumber many customers ask for by name, again and again.”

Willing to Help

“James is an excellent co-worker. He’ll help you with an answer any time and he’s not afraid to pitch in onsite if you really need him,” said Jeremy Maher, McElroy’s plumber. “I’d been fighting a drain clog for several hours. It was after midnight, and I couldn’t open it. Whether he admits it or not, James is a drain-clearing legend, so I gave him a call. He came out in the middle of the night, and together we got the job done. Some of us call James ‘Daddy’ because he’ll sacrifice for us like he was our father. But that’s nothing compared to his devotion to his own kids. He has a very special bond with them!”

Bikes and Camper

James and his wife, Kelly, have two sons: Cameron, age 7 and Korbin, age 13. “The boys and I have a ridiculous amount of bikes: dirt bikes, mini-choppers and road bikes. We spend time together rebuilding, tuning and riding them, and going to watch races,” James said. “As a family, we enjoy our 35-foot bumper-pull camper. We achieved a goal to visit every state park in Kansas, eating at local places and exploring as we go. As a guy who grew up overseas, I have a strong appreciation of what Kansas has to offer!”

All-Around Dedication

“When I’m on a service call on my own, I feel like a one-man army, shooting from the hip,” James said. “But I’m never alone with McElroy’s. I have highly experienced peers I can call for help, and I have the latest tools and resources available. That support helps me live up to the high expectations our customers have.” McElroy’s appreciates James’ dedication to the plumbing trade, his peers, our customers and his family. In one decade as a member of our team, James has built a very high level of trust with everyone around him. We thank James King for his skills and thoughtfulness, and we trust he’ll be a valuable part of our team for many years to come!