In 1996, our founder, Jerry L. Shelton, Jr., began his journey as a subcontractor for Houston-area plumbing companies. Starting in single-family residential subdivisions, he installed sanitary sewer lines connecting homes to the city and MUD sewer mains. His dedication and expertise soon led to opportunities in site utility installations for small townhome projects emerging in Houston’s inner loop. From single and duplex homes to larger four- and six-unit developments, the company steadily grew.

Over time, our capabilities expanded beyond residential work to include small public utility extensions—water, sanitary, and storm systems—serving new developments. As our reputation and expertise grew, we evolved into a diversified company, now serving residential and commercial developments, municipal and industrial utilities across not only Houston but the greater Gulf Coast region.

The 2008 economic downturn challenged the industry, but we adapted by restructuring and adding earthwork services to our portfolio. Through varying economic conditions, we continued to diversify, entering municipal construction of water, sanitary, and storm utilities, as well as commercial development. Today, our services include land clearing, mass excavation, building pad construction, detention ponds, and stabilized subgrade preparation.

Our growth has been driven by dedicated leadership. Jerry’s brother, Dustin Shelton, joined the company in 1999 as a superintendent, bringing much-needed oversight to our expanding workforce. In 2000, Jason Witcher joined the team and later became the master plumber for Backup Utility Contractors.

Thanks to the vision and hard work of these leaders, Backup has grown into a respected industry leader in earthwork and utility construction in the Houston area. Today, with the support of key employees overseeing operations and administration, we continue to prioritize efficiency, professionalism, and excellence in every aspect of our business.