Bagby History

In 1918, light bulb salesman Sam L Bagby established the Carolina’s first lighting agency. Truly an industry pioneer, SL Bagby Company is the eldest lighting agency in the southeast, and among the eldest in the entire country. During its first 40 years, the company was family-owned and survived several economic and social upheavals, including the Great Depression, multiple wars and the civil rights movement. The company also witnessed major technological advances which produced significant changes in the lighting industry. Despite all these challenges, Bagby thrived and grew, adding many lighting lines, including Lithonia and forging lasting relationships with many distributors, builders, and contractors.

Today, surging forward with new leadership, the Bagby Team is proud of its history and continues to strive for excellence. Jay Casabonne and Johnny Morgan purchased the company in 2004 and have 35 combined years of experience in the commercial lighting industry. With their passion for people, lighting, and the environment, they’ve added exciting dynamics to the business, while also maintaining valuable alliances that have stood the test of time. Jay and Johnny believe in building relationships, giving back to the community, and providing innovative and sustainable designs for a wide variety of lighting projects. They are trend-setters in their industry, proudly leading the Bagby Company in new endeavors, such as green-building, energy-efficient lighting solutions, and other sustainability-related growth. They are now active members in local chapters of: AIA, USGBC, IES, and IIDA, and continue to pursue new and inspiring ways to provide lighting solutions.

In practicing Lighting Design, SL Bagby employees shall operate within a standard of reasonable care consistent with the degree of care and skill ordinarily exercised by other members of the lighting design profession who currently practice under similar circumstances. This would include recommendation of products not represented by SL Bagby, if that particular product is better suited for the application.

» We shall act in a fair and impartial manner when balancing the needs and sometimes conflicting interests of clients, other members of the design team, suppliers, installers, and our manufacturers.

» We shall be candid and truthful in all professional communications.