In the 1950's an ordinance was passed requiring portable restrooms on construction sites. Since Andy had a septic pump truck, he decided to build wood portable restrooms, using scrap plywood, and started renting and servicing portable restrooms, under the name Mission Sanitation Company. Barry and Bill helped build the first five wood restrooms in the garage of the home in Mission Hills, California, while in junior high school. Irma and Cherilyn typed the invoices and took telephone orders in the home.
Barry and Bill served in the military in the early 1960's before joining their Dad in the family business. Barry's wife, Pati, joined the company, taking over the administrative duties from Irma.
Andy's sign painter suggested that he put his name on the restrooms, "Another Andy Gump", and Andy reluctantly agreed. Andy's reputation for wanting to "help people", offering "an honest days pay for an honest days work", and "never making a promise he couldn't keep", resulted in Andy's name becoming synonymous with a portable restroom as his family business grew. Andy never hired a "salesperson" - he relied on his good name and providing a clean restroom to grow the business.
In the 1970's Barry assumed leadership of the company, expanding into providing temporary power to construction sites and becoming a licensed electrical contractor. In 1984 Barry led a Los Angeles group of sanitation companies in
Massena "Andy" Gump and his wife, Irma, moved from Colorado to California in the 1930's to escape the "dustbowl" and find a new life. Andy had worked in his parents' gas station and cafe and had tried teaching in Colorado before moving West and picking dates for an uncle in Indio, California.
In the 1940's, Andy and Irma settled in the San Fernando Valley, California, where Andy learned to install septic systems, bought a used truck and went into business for himself. Andy and Irma raised three children, Cherilyn, Barry and Bill.