John L. "Jl" Kornegay

John L. Kornegay, best known to his family and friends as JL, was born on October 27, 1938, in Caldwell, Texas, to parents Sam Kornegay and Stacy Navratil Kornegay, the eldest of four children. He grew up in Caldwell and graduated from Caldwell High School in 1957. While in high school, John began working for Herman Boedker and continued working there for a year after graduation. 

He entered the U.S. Navy in 1958 and in his last year he was transferred to Hawaii to finish his tour. His job was getting sailors and soldiers from Hawaii back to the United States. He received certification from an airline for his work there, which he continued until his honorable discharge upon completing his tour of duty a year later, in 1962. 

After spending a few weeks at home in Caldwell, John decided to travel to Houston, Texas, to begin his work for the Nabisco Company and spent several years there. He then accepted a promotion to work as a General Manager over numerous convenience stores for a corporation that owned many convenience stores in the Houston area. He had to make sure they were open in the mornings, and fully staffed, which he did faithfully for several years. 

While he was there, he met a business acquaintance and they started the Hotcoa Company, and they went to hospitals and installed televisions in the rooms, so that patients who wanted could rent them daily. The hospital themselves had not wanted the responsibility for that before. They did this for several years and it became very popular among patients who found it affordable. When the costs of televisions went up, and when hospitals decided to make this profitable venture their own, they phased out that line of work. 

They rented televisions and refrigerators and expanded their clientele to students in dorms of neighboring colleges and universities, to whom they leased microwaves and refrigerators.

Always finding a new way to meet clients’ needs, John began to offer a video recording service, where he would bring his video camera to your home and make a visual inventory of all your things in case something was stolen or in case of fire. 

During this same time, John went to the University of Houston, studying business and earned two certificates from U of H for his training in business. He also received a certificate from Rice University for a course he took there in business management and accounting.

Ultimately, John started a business called Color Rent All, Inc., “Specialists in furnishings for temporary executive accommodation.”  Also at this time, the need for corporate rental properties was growing as Houston was growing so quickly. People were relocating to Houston for project work for short terms or for eventual permanent relocation. John entered the equipment rental business as a rental agent, taking care of everything the clients would need or want during their stay in Houston. 

They had many clients from around the world, as far away as Japan, people would come, and he would have everything they needed when relocating their families for a year or more.  Eventually Color Rent All, Inc. grew into leading a corporate leasing business for company apartments and townhomes. This endeavor included a housekeeper service and finally, providing fully furnished apartments for people coming from all over the country to meet the needs of ever-growing Houston businesses. John was very successful at growing the business and was a good model as a business leader in his community.

During John’s work in the housing and rental industry, his clients and employees became part of his family. He was always willing to help during times of hardship, and he always had an affordable rental property available for someone when in need. 

He also helped people who had fallen on tough times, who needed help with refrigerators, microwaves, and other appliances. He was willing to help them by giving them good used appliances to see them through that time; he was highly respected and regarded as an independent businessman. He also made many lifelong friends throughout his career who appreciated his generous spirit.

Very active in supporting the arts community, especially in Houston. John loved to attend theater performances, concerts, and museum exhibits. When he retired, he enjoyed traveling to auctions and collecting fine art. John especially appreciated collecting Lladró and Thomas Kinkade. 

John loved to travel, and he cherished traveling to Hawaii and other countries, where he loved the beauty of nature and the pace of life on islands. The final eight years of his life were spent in Bryan, lovingly cared for by his brother, Charlie, and his sister, Susie Howry, who both saw to his every comfort as best as possible during health challenges from Alzheimer’s Disease.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Stacy, his sister Sammi Ruth (“Babe”), sister Liz Kornegay Wilson, nephew Terry Howry, and brother-in-law Leonard Howry. John is survived by his sister Susie Howry, brother Charlie (Penny) Kornegay, nieces Andrea Sartin, Kim Ferrie, Charlette Busing, and Nikki Kornegay, and nephew Chris Kornegay.

In lieu of flowers, John’s family suggests that any gift made in his memory to Alzheimer’s Disease Research (22512 Gateway Center Dr., P. O. Box 1950, Clarksburg, MD 20871-1950 or online www.brightfocus.org/cureAD) are appreciated. 

Express condolences online at www.callawayjones.com.