The Southern Devall Group Announces Ed Grimm’s Retirement

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Southern Devall Group (the “Company”) is the holding company for the combined businesses of Southern Towing and Devall Towing. The Southern Devall Group is an affiliate of CC Industries (“CCI”) and a leading towboat and barge operator across the Gulf Intracoastal and U.S. inland waterways. Following the Company’s successful acquisition of Devall Towing, Ed Grimm has retired as CEO of The Southern Devall Group. The Company announced today that Stephen Kelley is assuming the role of Chief Operating Officer of Southern Towing. Stephen joined Southern Towing in 2017 with previous experience at Martin Resource Management Corporation and KPMG. Kevin Conway will continue in his role as Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Southern Towing and Kenny Devall will continue in his role as Chief Operating Officer of Devall Towing.

Chris Sullivan will assume the role of interim Chief Executive Officer of The Southern Devall Group alongside his current responsibilities in CCI’s Corporate Development Group and as a board member of The Southern Devall Group.

“We are grateful for the leadership and years of service from Ed Grimm, especially through our acquisitions of Southern Towing in 2019 and Devall Towing in 2021. We wish Ed all the best as he looks to spend more time with his family,” said CCI’s President and CEO, Bill Crown. “We have the utmost confidence in Chris Sullivan, Stephen Kelley, Kenny Devall, and their management teams to continue supporting and growing The Southern Devall Group.”

Chris Sullivan stated, “We look forward to continuing to provide customers integrated marine transportation solutions through Devall Towing and Southern Towing’s capabilities on the Gulf Intracoastal and U.S. inland waterways.”

About Southern Towing

Southern Towing is one of the nation’s largest transporters of liquid fertilizer and other products along the inland waterways of the United States. Southern Towing operates a fleet of 27 towboats and 78 barges and provides marine transportation services to customers in agriculture and industrial markets. Southern Towing was founded in 1958 and is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee.

About Devall Towing

Devall Towing is a leading marine transportation provider of specialty chemicals on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and Lower Mississippi River. Devall operates a fleet of 36 towboats and 131 liquid tank barges as well as fleeting locations in Lake Charles, Louisiana and Victoria, Texas, with combined capacity for up to 175 barges. Devall Diesel Services provides marine diesel sales and service with dealerships in Louisiana and Texas. Devall was founded in 1952 by Alfred Devall and is headquartered in Sulphur, Louisiana.

About CC Industries, Inc.

CC Industries is the Chicago-based holding company for the Crown family’s privately-held companies, including: GILLIG, Great Dane Trailers, J.L. Clark, Miracapo Pizza Company, Provisur Technologies, Riverside Rail, Selig, Southern Towing Company, and Trail King Industries. The Crown family has a long history of owning and growing industrial businesses. The Crown family’s original business dates itself to 1919 when Henry Crown and his brothers started Material Service Corporation.