Richard Colgin, born in 1899, started with his father, S.E. Colgin, manufacturing and distributing meat curing products for the farm and store.
In 1938, S.E. Colgin was granted a patent for Smoke Flavoring Condiments #2129047. After his death, carried on the family business until refrigerated warehouse in the 1940's. This spelled the decline of home meat curing. resourcefully experimented and improved his liquid smoke formula to the one we use today.
In 1945, the Richard E. Colgin Company, Inc. was founded in Dallas, Texas, where it grew under the auspicious direction of Colgin until his death in 1971. Afterwards, his daughter, Louise Colgin Pryor, and her husband, Gene H. Pryor, took over the company management. Today, Elizabeth Gardner, granddaughter and her husband, Mark Gardner, run The Colgin Companies as it is now known.