Owen Cleaners, Inc. is a Kentucky corporation headquartered in Paducah, Kentucky from which it services customers across a four state region. The company provides a broad range of retail cleaning and laundry services. It operates a 17,000 square foot production facility, six customer drop-off and pickup stores, and two large self-service laundromats.  The company also offers free home or office pickup and delivery.

History

Two brothers, Horace and Tully Owen, founded the company in 1920. Horace Owen became the sole proprietor in 1933, and remained active in the company into the 1970’s.

In 1950 Gene Katterjohn, Jr., a son-in-law to Horace Owen, joined the company. Early in the partnership a new 17,000 square foot drycleaning plant and shirt laundry was built that continues in operation today. Later the company expanded into the coin-operated laundry business. Several large "Laun-Alls" were built featuring top-of-the-line equipment. Each Laun-All was also designed to serve as a drycleaning and laundry pick up location.

In January 1992, David Perry, a son-in-law to Gene Katterjohn, and Carolyn Perry, his daughter, purchased the company. They became the third generation to own and operate the business. David Perry currently serves as President, and Carolyn Perry serves as Secretary/Treasurer.

Service Innovations

In 1933, the company became one of the first licensees of Sanitone, and today ranks as the oldest licensee of Sanitone in the world. Many top clothing designers recognize the Sanitone drycleaning process as a symbol of high quality drycleaning.  Learn more about Sanitone and see samples of our advertisements by clicking below.

The company was also the first in the region to introduce such other service innovations as "in car" service, Express bags, Adjust-A-Drape cleaning, free home or office pickup and delivery, and our new AutoPay monthly charge accounts.

Community Support

As a locally owned company, Owen Cleaners is proud to support a wide variety of community projects and organizations.  Learn more about the organizations that we have supported by clicking on the button below.

Coats for Kids

For 18 years Owen Cleaners was proud to jointly sponsor with NewsChannel Six and Cal Sisto, the annual Cal’s Coats for Kids coat drive. During that time 84,000 coats were collected, cleaned and distributed to deserving area families.  For ten years, the program was expanded to include a region-wide school challenge in which schools compete for awards and valuable prizes. 

Owen Cleaners is a member of the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce.  Mr. Katterjohn, our former owner and president, currently serves on the board of Paducah Bank & Trust Company.  He has completed prior board assignments on the Paducah Water Works Board, Paducah Tourism Board and the Convention Center Board.

Mr. Perry currently serves on the Board of Directors of Computer Services, Inc.  He has formerly served on the boards of Growth, Inc., The Paducah Bank & Trust Company and The Four Rivers Center for the Performing Arts, Inc..  He is an active member of the Rotary Club of Paducah. 

Ms. Carolyn Perry has served as President of the Paducah Symphony League and as a director of the Paducah Symphony Orchestra. She is also past president of a Local Garden Club and has been active in numerous school organizations.

The company continues to contribute through donations and advertising with many local charitable and non-profitable organizations.  Click on the Community Support button below to see a more complete list.

Industry Leadership

Owen Cleaners has long valued its participation in the Varsity International Conference of Drycleaners. Each year no more than 20 leading drycleaning companies from around the world are invited to participate in the weeklong conference. The 2002 conference was Owen Cleaners’ 26^th year overall and 10th year in a row.  Since participation in the conference is by invitation only, it has been an honor for Owen Cleaners to have been invited over such a long period of time.

Varsity companies are all large, full service drycleaning companies from primarily large cities throughout the United States, and over the years from many foreign countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Germany. Every Varsity company is committed to providing world-class quality and service, and is willing to share the latest innovations and technologies from around the globe.

David Perry served as the Conference Chairman for the 2001 Varsity International Conference.  This is the second time that Owen Cleaners has been so honored. Mr. Katterjohn was Varsity Conference Chairman in 1976.