In 1945, John P. Van Denburgh Sr. received from President Harry S. Truman, in Washington D.C. a commemorative medal for his service on the Arizona draft board. On his return trip, via New Orleans, he visited his brother Archer Graham Van Denburgh, who just bought a fence company and needed a manager. J.P. Van Denburgh Jr., who had just returned home from service in World War II, was offered the position.
After managing J.R. Quaid Inc. for three years he returned to Arizona in 1948 to start the American Fence Company at 400 E. Roosevelt, Phoenix, Arizona.
