Big Chief was founded in 1962 by James Howe, Sr. He was a letterman for the University of Kentucky in both football and basketball, playing for Bear Bryant and Adolph Rupp. After college, he was offered a contract by the Green Bay Packers. The contract was for $4,500 - a good amount at the time - but Mr. Howe held doubts regarding the long-term “staying power” of this relatively new National Football League! Instead, he elected to utilize his engineering degree and go into the process heating industry. He believed he could earn a better living and support his growing family in manufacturing.

He first worked for The Smysor Company before heading out on his own to start The J.R. Howe Company as a manufacturer’s representative. After a few years in that business Mr. Howe saw the potential in distribution and started Big Chief, Inc. The company is now headed by his sons, Bob, Terry, and Jeff Howe. From a foundation of modest beginnings in a home basement office, Big Chief built its business in facilities throughout the Tri-State area of Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. Today, Big Chief has grown into one of the largest process heating distributors in the country with clients in all 50 states as well as 12 countries.

James Howe, Sr. - Football Player

Products and Service

Big Chief supplies a wide range of custom electrical process heaters and products:

• cartridge heaters
• mica band heaters
• ceramic heaters
• strip/channel heaters
• cast-in heaters
• complete line of custom temperature and pressure sensors
• pressure and temperature controller systems

Big Chief focuses on the automotive, aerospace, medical, food packaging/manufacturing and building materials industries. The company uses its team of outside sales reps as well as its inside sales teams to provide on-site support, map critical equipment parts and plan coverage needs in facilities, as well as provide custom stocking for critical, emergent parts.

Big Chief Inc.