L-R: Olen Cothron, founder of the Cothron family companies

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Owner Steve Cothron started a new branch of the business, Cothron’s Security Solutions. Since 2008, the company has been addressing the security business on the electronic side as well as offering door installations.

“With the security business, we broke into the areas of mechanical hardware, electronic access hardware and surveillance which got us into the realm of working with new construction,” Cothron said.

Steve’s father, Olen Cothron, started Cothron’s Safe And Lock in Austin in 1948 on the intersection of 4th Street and Congress Avenue. Since then the company has expanded to five locations in Austin and one in Round Rock. Steve says he always knew he wanted to eventually own the business, and has worked for his father since he was in high school. He took over the business completely in 2005. Olen still comes around to see how the business is doing, Steve said.

Aside from managing the lock and key business, Steve Cothron also has some other hobbies that keep him occupied. He also has a sport fishing business operation in Guatemala called Guatemala Bill Fishing Adventures and a water fowl hunting operation by Eagle Lake.

“I am involved in these side businesses that I can do when I retire. I have always been a big outdoorsmen,” he said.

When it comes to managing Cothron’s, he says he tries to carry on his father’s motto.

“He took the reigns and carried the motto to never leave a customer unhappy,” he said. –km

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