Lee Killingsworth, president of Lee's Unlimited in Huntsville, Texas, was fired two days before his first son was born and decided no one would ever control his livelihood again. Almost 30 years later, his air conditioning and septic company serves about 800 clients. Lee talks about refusing the word "can't", running 227 maintenance agreements without keeping it all in his head, the ink pen test for hiring, and why you have to find your balance.
Jonathan Tyson
Oct 7, 2026
Last updated Oct 9, 2026
President, Lee's Unlimited
Lee Killingsworth is the president of Lee's Unlimited, an air conditioning, septic and home services company in Huntsville, Texas. He grew up in Bedias, Texas, working for ranchers and farmers, then learned HVAC at his stepdad's air conditioning company, where he fabricated sheet metal duct work, ran quality control on commercial installs and handled residential service. Two days before his first son was born, his boss fired him, and he decided to be his own boss. He started as "Handyman Lee", earned his air conditioning license and several septic licenses, and has run Lee's Unlimited for almost 30 years. His sons now work in the business and are trained in both trades.
Company: Lee's Unlimited
Location: Huntsville, Texas
Services: Air conditioning repair and replacement, septic services and maintenance agreements, window replacement, storm shelters
Visit Website →Lee's Unlimited is a home comfort contracting company in Huntsville, Texas, offering air conditioning repair and replacement, septic services, window replacement and storm shelters. The company works with about 800 clients, 227 of them on maintenance agreements.
Treat every homeowner as the boss, answer the phone, and leave every system working, with proof.
Residential service work and recurring maintenance agreements for air conditioning and septic systems. One technician trained in both trades can check a home's septic system and its air conditioning on the same visit.
Lee Killingsworth of Lee's Unlimited explains how he built an air conditioning and septic company that has lasted almost 30 years: refuse the word "can't", treat every homeowner as your boss, and find your balance.
On Mindset
I don't believe in the word can't.
On Mindset
When I'm told you can't do something, I figure out a way you can do it.
On Customers
I went from one boss to, I don't know, a thousand different bosses.
On Hiring
Drop an ink pen in front of somebody. That'll tell you real quick.
On Technology
We're not having to remember everything in our head 100% of the time.
On Reputation
One bad customer will tell a thousand people. One good customer will tell ten.
On Balance
You have to find your balance.
Getting fired two days before his son was born pushed Lee to work for himself, and he's never looked back.
How a fight with the county over an RV park led Lee into the septic business, one license at a time.
Running 227 maintenance agreements and seasonal AC checks with reminders instead of notebooks.
The final walk-through and job photos that protect Lee's reputation on every call.
Lee's sons are trained in both trades and already know the clients.
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