Powers Signs was founded in 1946 by Loyd T. "Fitz" Powers
after his return from naval service in World War II.

He started out in a rented second story shop on Main St. in Danville, Va. In that shop, he did hand lettered signs and the occasional electric sign.

In 1955 he moved the business into a stand-alone building that he purchased at 943 Industrial Ave. At that building he continued to produce hand lettered signs and now had the room to expand into more electric signs and also produce neon in an upstairs neon plant.

In 1973, his son Tom Powers took over the business on his return from service in the army. Fitz ran the day to day operations and continued the hand lettering, and Tom did the electric signs,and installations. Fitz's other sons, George and Mark also worked in the business during the '70s.

In 1984, Tom purchased the first computer-controlled vinyl cutter in the area. Fitz was not supportive of the decision to purchase the cutter, saying that it would never pay for itself. One Saturday a few weeks later, the first lettering job was done by that machine. In 1986, with failing health, Fitz told Tom that he was glad that they had bought that machine because he knew that his business would go on without him. On January 11, 1986, Fitz succumbed to cancer after fighting it for years.

In 1987, Tom expanded the shop area and purchased a storage lot next door. In 1991, Tom purchased a PC based system that he could do custom designs and logos with. At that point he had expanded to produce vinyl lettering, electric signs, backlit awnings, architectural signs and many other types of signage. It was truly a full service sign shop.

In 2001, Tom purchased a 23,500 sq. ft. building at 807 Industrial Ave. Now he has enough room to expand into areas he has always wanted, such as billboards and carved signs.