The West Tennessee Chapter was formed from the leadership of Bill and Harlan Watts (W&W Construction Co.), June Kiersey (City Air & Heating), Robert McBride (Summerall Electric), Tommy Mahoney (Mahoney Plumbing Company), and Hugh Bagwell (Bagwell Plumbing)and J.V. Weatherington (A.C. Electric). These men joined together in support of Bill Watts and W&W Construction who were embroiled in a battle with organized labor over W&W's decision to become an open shop.

In 1972, Bill Watts, a member of the bargaining committee of the Associated General Contractors (AGC), resigned from the committee in protest when union demands became unreasonable. Bill Watts hired non-union labor to work on his job sites, which led to union workers walking off the job. In the days and months that followed, violence instigated by organized labor erupted. The many incidences included broken windows, fire bombings, and threats on Bill Watt's life.

Urged by the President of the ABC in Nashville to form a local chapter, the brave men mentioned above did just that. Despite many attempts by organized labor to quash the efforts of these merit shop contractors, ABC persevered and has remained strong for the last 30 years. WTCABC History from founder Bill Watts.