Where It All Began
In the early 1970s, two young men from modest beginnings crossed paths while working at a plumbing supply company. Neither had money, but both shared a strong work ethic and a willingness to learn the business from the ground up.
George Sudderth and Mark Summerville spent years working side by side, learning every aspect of the plumbing supply industry while building a friendship and partnership that would eventually shape their future.
After roughly a decade, they moved to Gayle Supply under the leadership of Bill Gayle, where they continued gaining valuable industry experience and business knowledge. To this day, both remain grateful for the mentorship and opportunities they received during those years.
When Gayle Supply was eventually sold to Hughes Supply, George and Mark stayed on for a time before realizing they wanted to build something of their own — a company rooted in the values they believed mattered most.
With that vision, GLS Supply in Birmingham was born.
Built to Serve the Trades
From the beginning, GLS Supply focused on serving the people who keep homes and businesses running every day: professional plumbers, contractors, and builders.
The company was built around a simple philosophy — treat people fairly, work hard, provide dependable service, and build relationships that last.
Those principles helped GLS steadily grow into a trusted plumbing supply partner throughout Alabama. Over the years, contractors came to rely on GLS not only for products, but for problem-solving, product knowledge, inventory support, and a team willing to go the extra mile when projects needed attention.
Even as the industry evolved, GLS remained committed to offering the kind of service that’s become increasingly difficult to find — knowledgeable people, dependable communication, and relationships built on trust rather than transactions.
This is why over the past 25 years, GLS Supply has expanded into multiple locations serving Birmingham, Huntsville, Cullman, and surrounding areas.
More Than Just Products
One of the things that has long set GLS apart is the experience behind the counter.
Many GLS employees have spent years in the plumbing supply industry and understand how projects come together from the inside out. That knowledge allows the team to help plumbers and contractors navigate challenges, source the right products, and avoid costly delays on the jobsite.
It’s a level of support that goes beyond simply filling orders.
At GLS, relationships matter. Many customers have worked with the company for decades, and those partnerships have grown through countless homes, remodels, commercial projects, and service calls across Alabama communities.
A Family Business at Heart
Even through growth and industry changes, GLS Supply has remained firmly rooted as a family business.
That sense of continuity can be felt throughout the company — from longtime employees to customers who continue returning project after project, generation after generation.
Now, as leadership transitions to the next generation of the founding families, the same values that built GLS continue to guide its future: fairness, respect, integrity, hard work, and taking care of both customers and employees.
Looking Ahead
Reaching 25 years in business is more than a milestone — it’s a reflection of the relationships, trust, and support built along the way.
GLS Supply is proud to continue serving Alabama’s plumbers, contractors, builders, homeowners, and communities with the same commitment that started it all decades ago.
Because while products, technology, and trends may evolve, the value of trust, service, and strong relationships will always be the foundation of the business.