Quick Comparison
| Firm | Founded / Tenure & Credentials | Services & Specialties | Geographic Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linek Plumbing Company | 1916 (Frank Linek and Henry Linek founders); three Linek family generations; current owner Steve Stilwell (Vice President) plus continuing Linek family involvement | MO Plumbing Contractor; UA Plumbers Local 562 union; ASPE + PHCC + St. Louis Plumbing Industry Council member | Webster Groves base since 1970; St. Louis City and County |
| J.J. Kokesh and Son Plumbing | 1919 (Jerry Joseph "J.J." Kokesh founder, immigrated 1890); four Kokesh family generations (J.J. → Edward 1945 → Larry 1975 → Joe 2013); fifth generation Jackson and Charlotte Kokesh | MO Master Plumbers Association License (J.J. 1927; Joe 2015), UA Plumbing Local 562, BBB Accredited | Kehrs Mill Road base in Ballwin (63011); St. Louis and surrounding counties |
| Wm. G. Cocos Plumbing Company | 1925 (William G. Cocos Sr. founder; Romanian immigrant 1912, WWI veteran); four-generation Cocos family operation; current President Joseph Cocos plus Office Manager Benjamin Cocos | City of St. Louis License #053 plus Mechanical Contractor #C423; St. Louis County #P5237 plus MCC-X0060; Illinois #058-11023 | Lemay Ferry Road base in St. Louis (63125); St. Louis Metro plus Illinois cross-state |
| Tony LaMartina Plumbing Company | 1982 firm-name founding (Tony LaMartina); Vincenzo LaMartina early-1900s Italian-immigrant grandfather lineage; Jim LaMartina 1950s LaMartina Plumbing; current President Tony plus son Matt LaMartina (General Manager 2013); four LaMartina generations | MO Master Plumber (Tony LaMartina 40+ years); BBB A+ since 2010; Angie's List Super Service Awards 2009-2015 | Dale Avenue base in St. Louis (63110); St. Louis City plus St. Louis County |
1. Linek Plumbing Company
- Address: Webster Groves, MO (location since 1970; original California Avenue St. Louis base 1916-1970)
- Phone: (314) 645-2330
- Founder: Frank Linek and Henry Linek (founded 1916 as Linek Brothers Plumbing Co.); Frank and Anna Linek’s sons Joe and Bill (second generation); third generation includes Bill, Jim, and Joe’s son John; current ownership includes Steve Stilwell as Vice President
- Operating Since: 1916 (110 years; “Serving St Louis for 110 Years”)
- License: Missouri Plumbing Contractor; UA Plumbers Local 562 union plumbers; ASPE (American Society of Plumbing Engineers) member; PHCC (Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors) member; St. Louis Plumbing Industry Council member
- Service area: St. Louis City, St. Louis County (Webster Groves, Kirkwood, Ladue, Clayton, Brentwood, Maplewood, Richmond Heights, University City, Creve Coeur, Town and Country, Ballwin, Chesterfield, West County, Frontenac, Sunset Hills)
- Website: linekplumbing.com
Three Linek Family Generations Spanning 110 Years
Frank Linek and Henry Linek founded Linek Brothers Plumbing in 1916. Frank and Anna Linek’s sons Joe and Bill carried the second generation. The third generation now includes sons Bill and Jim plus Joe’s son John. The 110-year operating tenure ranks Linek Plumbing among the longest-tenured plumbing operations in Missouri.
Webster Groves Base Since 1970
The original Linek Brothers shop sat on California Avenue in St. Louis from 1916 through 1970. The firm relocated to Webster Groves in 1970 and has operated from that base for the subsequent 56 years. Webster Groves supports the inner-ring St. Louis County residential corridor with substantial pre-war Tudor-revival and Colonial-revival housing requiring specialized plumbing-trade context.
UA Local 562 Union Plumbers Plus Trade-Association Membership Stack
Linek Plumbing operates as a union shop under UA Plumbers Local 562. The trade-association membership stack covers ASPE (American Society of Plumbing Engineers), PHCC (Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors), and the St. Louis Plumbing Industry Council. The multi-association affiliation reflects substantial participation in the formal trade infrastructure.
2. J.J. Kokesh and Son Plumbing
- Address: 408 Kehrs Mill Road, Ballwin, MO 63011
- Phone: (636) 391-1233
- Founder: Jerry Joseph “J.J.” Kokesh (immigrated to America 1890 at age 15; founded 1919); son Edward Kokesh (took over 1945 post-WWII, earned Master Plumber license 1948); grandson Larry Kokesh (1975); Joe Kokesh (Larry’s son, current owner since 2013, Master Plumber license 2015); great-grandchildren Jackson and Charlotte (fifth generation)
- Operating Since: 1919 (107 years); five Kokesh family generations
- License: Missouri Master Plumbers Association License (J.J. earned 1927; Joe earned 2015); UA Plumbing Local 562 union; BBB Accredited; fully licensed and insured
- Service area: St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Ballwin, Manchester, Wildwood, Chesterfield, Town and Country, Ellisville, Clarkson Valley, Eureka, Pacific, Saint Charles County, Jefferson County, Franklin County
- Website: jjkokeshandson.com
Five Kokesh Family Generations Spanning 107 Years
J.J. Kokesh immigrated to America in 1890 at age 15 and founded the firm in 1919. He earned his Missouri Master Plumbers Association License in 1927. His son Edward returned from World War II in 1945 and led the company forward, earning his own Master Plumbers license in 1948. Edward’s son Larry took over in 1975. Joe Kokesh (Larry’s son) became current owner in 2013 and earned his Master Plumber license in 2015. Joe and his wife Megan have two children (Jackson and Charlotte) representing the emerging fifth Kokesh generation.
Kehrs Mill Road Ballwin Operating Base
The 408 Kehrs Mill Road headquarters sits in Ballwin, the West County St. Louis suburb. The position enables rapid dispatch across St. Louis County’s western corridor plus Saint Charles, Jefferson, and Franklin Counties. Service extends through Ballwin, Manchester, Wildwood, Chesterfield, Town and Country, Ellisville, Clarkson Valley, Eureka, and Pacific.
Multi-Generation MO Master Plumbers License Continuity
J.J. Kokesh’s 1927 Missouri Master Plumbers Association License plus Edward’s 1948 master credential plus Joe’s 2015 master credential reflect continuous master-plumber credentialing across multiple Kokesh family generations. UA Plumbing Local 562 union affiliation provides additional trade-association credential depth. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification.
3. Wm. G. Cocos Plumbing Company
- Address: 738 Lemay Ferry Road, Saint Louis, MO 63125-1428
- Phone: (314) 638-7900
- Founder: William G. Cocos Sr. (Romanian immigrant 1912 at age 17; U.S. Army veteran WWI; founded 1925); four-generation Cocos family operation; current President Joseph Cocos plus Office Manager Benjamin Cocos
- Operating Since: 1925 (101 years); four Cocos family generations; 1946 headquarters built at 738 Lemay Ferry Road
- License: City of St. Louis License #053 plus Mechanical Contractor License #C423; St. Louis County License #P5237 plus Mechanical Contractor License #MCC-X0060; Illinois Plumbing Contractor License #058-11023
- Service area: St. Louis City, St. Louis County (Affton, South County, Lemay, Mehlville, Oakville), Jefferson County (Arnold, Imperial), plus Illinois cross-state work
- Website: cocosplumbing.com
William G. Cocos Romanian-Immigrant Founding Plus Four-Generation Family
William G. Cocos Sr. emigrated from Romania in 1912 at age 17 and settled in St. Louis. He served in the U.S. Army in Europe during World War I. After his discharge, he enrolled in veterans-training to become a plumber and founded the firm in 1925. The original operation ran from his South St. Louis home. In 1936, he moved the family and operation to a new home with a large garage. In 1946, the firm built its current 738 Lemay Ferry Road headquarters. Joseph Cocos serves as current President. Benjamin Cocos serves as Office Manager.
Lemay Ferry Road Headquarters Since 1946 Plus 101-Year Tenure
The 738 Lemay Ferry Road headquarters has framed Cocos Plumbing for 80 years (since 1946). The South St. Louis County base supports service across the southern St. Louis Metro corridor plus the Jefferson County southern reach. The 101-year operating tenure ranks Cocos Plumbing among the longest-tenured plumbing operations in Missouri, having reached the centennial milestone in 2025.
Multi-Jurisdiction License Stack Across Missouri and Illinois
Cocos Plumbing holds an remarkably broad license portfolio: City of St. Louis Plumbing #053 plus Mechanical Contractor #C423; St. Louis County Plumbing #P5237 plus Mechanical Contractor #MCC-X0060; Illinois Plumbing Contractor #058-11023. The five-license stack covers municipal, county, and cross-state credentialing requirements. Cross-state Missouri-and-Illinois licensure supports work across the Mississippi River into Illinois-side communities.
4. Tony LaMartina Plumbing Company
- Address: 5705 Dale Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110
- Phone: (314) 403-2980
- Founder: Tony LaMartina (founded firm 1982; Master Plumber 40+ years); grandfather Vincenzo LaMartina (Italian immigrant early 1900s; original LaMartina plumbing trade); father Jim LaMartina (founded original LaMartina Plumbing Company in the 1950s); son Matt LaMartina (General Manager since 2013); four LaMartina generations
- Operating Since: 1982 firm-name founding; Vincenzo LaMartina early-1900s family-trade origin; over 30 years of contemporary firm operation
- License: Missouri Master Plumber (Tony LaMartina, 40+ years); fully licensed, insured, and bonded in St. Louis City and St. Louis County; BBB A+ Rating since 2010
- Service area: St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Webster Groves, Clayton, Ladue, Kirkwood, Brentwood, University City, Maplewood, Richmond Heights, Town and Country, Frontenac, Creve Coeur, Olivette, Glendale, Rock Hill
- Website: tonylamartinaplumbing.com
Four LaMartina Family Generations Across the Italian-Immigrant Origin
The LaMartina family plumbing-trade lineage traces to Vincenzo LaMartina, who emigrated from Italy in the early 1900s. Tony’s father Jim LaMartina founded the original LaMartina Plumbing Company in the 1950s. Tony LaMartina founded the contemporary Tony LaMartina Plumbing Company in 1982. Matt LaMartina (Tony’s son) joined as General Manager in 2013, setting the fourth-generation LaMartina succession.
Dale Avenue St. Louis Operating Base Plus Older-Home Specialty
The 5705 Dale Avenue headquarters sits in central St. Louis near the Forest Park West End corridor. The position extends dispatch reach across St. Louis City and the inner-ring St. Louis County suburbs. The firm specializes in older homes plus the finest homes in St. Louis, supporting service across the substantial pre-war Central West End, Lafayette Square, Soulard, Compton Heights, Tower Grove, and University City housing stock.
Master Plumber License Plus Multi-Award Recognition
Tony LaMartina holds Missouri Master Plumber credentialing with 40+ years of professional plumbing experience. The firm carries fully licensed, insured, and bonded status in both St. Louis City and St. Louis County. Recognition includes Angie’s List Super Service Awards (2009-2015) and BBB A+ Rating since 2010. The 4.93/5 customer rating reflects sustained service-quality performance across multi-decade operations.
Reference Notes
Missouri plumbing licensing operates through municipal and county authorities. The City of St. Louis Department of Public Safety issues Master Plumber and Plumbing Contractor credentials within city limits. St. Louis County administers separate plumbing-contractor credentialing. Verification runs through stlouis-mo.gov for city-level lookups and stlouisco.com for county-level verification. Surrounding St. Charles, Jefferson, and Franklin Counties administer their own permit-and-licensing frameworks. Cross-state Illinois work runs through the Illinois Department of Public Health Plumbing Program.
St. Louis-area residential housing reflects more than 250 years of settlement-era through contemporary construction. Pre-1850 housing remains in Soulard and Lafayette Square (Lafayette Square is the oldest preserved Victorian neighborhood in the United States). The 1880-1910 streetcar-suburb expansion built out Compton Heights, Shaw, Tower Grove, Central West End, Old North St. Louis, and Hyde Park. Pre-war 1910-1940 development filled out University City, Webster Groves, Kirkwood, Ladue, and Clayton. Postwar tract construction built out Affton, Lemay, South County, and the inner-ring suburbs through 1945-1970. The 1980s-1990s drove Town and Country, Chesterfield, and West County master-planned-community expansion. Cast-iron drain replacement plus lead-service-line replacement plus winter freeze-protection plus expansive-clay-soil substrate considerations shape recurring service categories.
The four firms profiled cover four positions on the St. Louis market arc. Linek Plumbing Company leads tenure with Frank and Henry Linek’s 1916 founding plus three Linek family generations across 110 years, supported by UA Local 562 union affiliation plus ASPE-PHCC-St. Louis Plumbing Industry Council membership stack. J.J. Kokesh and Son Plumbing follows with five Kokesh family generations since J.J. Kokesh’s 1919 founding (J.J. → Edward 1945 → Larry 1975 → Joe 2013, plus emerging Jackson and Charlotte fifth generation), plus continuous MO Master Plumbers Association License continuity (J.J. 1927, Joe 2015). Wm. G. Cocos Plumbing Company brings 101 years of four-generation Cocos family operation since William G. Cocos Sr.’s 1925 founding (Romanian immigrant 1912, WWI veteran), plus a five-license municipal-county-Illinois multi-jurisdiction stack. Tony LaMartina Plumbing Company runs four LaMartina family generations across the Italian-immigrant origin. Vincenzo started the family trade early-1900s. Jim founded the original LaMartina Plumbing Company in the 1950s. Tony LaMartina founded the contemporary firm in 1982. Matt LaMartina joined as General Manager in 2013. Tony holds a 40+ year Master Plumber credential plus BBB A+ since 2010 plus 2009-2015 Angie’s List Super Service Awards.
Verification paths run through stlouis-mo.gov, stlouisco.com, BBB Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois listings, the PHCC of Eastern Missouri directory, and the St. Louis Plumbing Industry Council membership directory. Pre-1900 Soulard, Lafayette Square, and Old North St. Louis housing tilts toward Linek Plumbing’s 110-year three-generation depth. West County multi-generation residential service fits J.J. Kokesh and Son. South St. Louis County and Illinois cross-state work fits Cocos Plumbing’s multi-jurisdiction stack. Central West End and inner-ring older-home specialty service fits Tony LaMartina.
Selection Methodology
Selection follows four criteria. First, continuous family ownership or founder-operator continuity outside the national rollup pattern. Second, verifiable Missouri Master Plumber license cross-checked via the City of St. Louis Department of Public Safety and St. Louis County contractor records. Third, BBB Accreditation or equivalent third-party rating. Fourth, minimum 10-year continuous operating tenure with documented St. Louis service coverage. Firms acquired by national franchise networks (Authority Brands’ Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, Neighborly’s Mr. Rooter, Service Experts, Roto-Rooter, Wrench Group, Redwood Services, Master Trades Group, ARS) are excluded.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I verify a St. Louis plumber’s license?
Use the City of St. Louis Department of Public Safety contractor records at stlouis-mo.gov for city-level credentials. Use stlouisco.com for St. Louis County records. Confirm active status, classification, bonding, and insurance before authorizing work.
What credentials should a St. Louis plumber hold?
At minimum: Missouri Master Plumber credential plus general liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage. City of St. Louis and St. Louis County require separate credentialing for cross-jurisdiction work. Specialty work (gas line, backflow prevention, fire sprinkler, sewer lateral) requires additional credential layers.
How can I tell if a St. Louis plumber is locally owned versus a national rollup?
Check ownership disclosures and acquisition history. National franchise brands typically operate under parent-company branding. Search the firm name plus “acquired” or “parent company” to surface ownership structure. The four firms in this directory all run as independent locally-owned operators.
When should I call an emergency plumber in St. Louis?
Burst pipes, sewer backups, gas leaks, no-water events, and water heater failures justify after-hours dispatch. Cold winter snaps drive freeze-burst pipe demand across the St. Louis Metro. Each firm in this directory offers either 24/7 emergency service or structured after-hours response.
Editorial Note
Compiled by the editorial team. Firm details cross-verified through municipal license records, BBB business profiles, and firm-published websites where available. License numbers should be re-verified through the City of St. Louis Department of Public Safety and St. Louis County contractor records before authorizing work. Information current as of the date below; firm details may change without notice. Last updated: 2026-05-10.