In 1954, Harold V. Goodman, founder of Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P., became an air conditioning contractor in the rapidly growing city of Houston, Texas. As the steamy Gulf Coast city grew, so did Harold's business, and by the late 1960s, he was one of the most successful HVAC contractors in the United States.

In 1975, Harold entered HVAC manufacturing with the formation of Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. The company began as a maker of flexible air duct and plastic blade registers. As this business grew successfully, however, Harold turned his sights to building HVAC equipment, recognizing the industry's need for a high-quality, low-cost producer of central air conditioning systems. As luck would have it, Harold learned that another HVAC manufacturer was closing its doors and selling off its manufacturing equipment. He quickly stepped in to purchase the shuttering company's machinery, transported it to a large warehouse in Houston, and in 1982, Goodman entered the market as a manufacturer of central air conditioners and heat pumps.

Goodman's parent company, Goodman Global, Inc., is the second largest domestic manufacturer of heating, ventilation and air conditioning products for residential and light commercial use based on unit sales.