Progress: T&W Metals

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Jerry and Linda Strickland have owned T&W Metals at 224 Memorial St. in Manning for about seven years.

But Jerry was always into the scrap metal business.

“I’ve been in it all my life,” he said. “I started when I was probably 15 years old. And until we did this as a business, I would just work a job and do scrap metal on the side.”

Jerry said he and his wife buy all types of scrap metal, although the couple does not deal with hazardous materials.

“We don’t buy TVs or food cans or propane tanks,” Jerry said. “I don’t mess with hazardous things. You get into a lot of problems with that.”

Before he took on scrap metal full-time, Jerry said he held jobs mostly in roofing, although he also worked in plumbing.

“You name it, I did it,” he said. “But I love doing this. This is a hobby that became a steady thing.”

“I’d call this his passion,” Linda said of T&W.

“Our employees are good, our customers are good and it’s just a nice thing to have your own business,” Jerry added.

Linda said she likes that the business provides customers with a place “to take their junk and clean out their yards and earn a little cash.”

The couple’s day begins early and typically ends 10 or so hours later.

“We get here at 8 a.m., and we’re supposed to leave at 5, but we usually leave about 6 or 7,” Jerry said. “If we have someone call and say they’re on the way, we’ll wait on them.”

The couple has been married 24 years; they have two sons and a daughter, along with four grandchildren.

T&W Metals is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, but closed from noon to 1 p.m. daily for lunch. They are also open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call (803) 433-2925.