The wives of Kevin McManus Sr. and Kevin McManus Jr. have a running joke: the two Kevins are actually the same person.
Because not only do the father-son duo share the same name, but they also share the same personality and careers, past and present. The two were both pilots in the Air Force, for starters; McManus Sr. on C-17s for nearly three decades, McManus Jr. on MQ-9s for eight years. And both are now co-owners of Five Star Painting of Charleston, a residential and commercial painting franchise in South Carolina.
Their similar personalities and life trajectories “make it really easy to work together, and most of the time we know what each other are thinking,” said McManus Jr., a 34-year-old married father of three. “It’s really great. I handle all operations side of the business, sort of like COO, and he handles mostly backend things like a CFO.”
With their houses only a mile apart, they are enjoying civilian careers in close proximity to each other. McManus Sr., now 58, once worried about the potentially deleterious impact his chosen career might have on his kids. So when his son, one of four McManus children, followed in his footsteps, it was extra special.
“Having a child follow our military lineage was validation that he wasn’t negatively impacted by the commitment and lifestyle I chose,” said McManus Sr. “Not being present for our children is certainly the biggest sacrifice for military parents.”
Conversely, there were benefits with the military lifestyle, too. Both men took great delight in the lifelong bonds with their fellow airmen. There was a sense of duty and patriotic pride that came from the pressures of training, flying sorties, TDYs, deployments and the like.
McManus Jr. knew that his father could relate. So when it came time for McManus Jr. to exit the Air Force, like his old man before him, it was an easy choice to move back to Charleston, where his family was. Together, the two Kevins bought the franchise, already running in Charleston for over a decade, from a previous owner in December of 2022.
“The leadership the military taught me has really helped me manage employees and provided communication skills, which is essential with customer service,” McManus Jr. said.
Even before purchasing Five Star Painting, McManus Sr. relied on his military background and network for assistance.
“I used VA resources to learn more about business acquisitions, tax implications and financial planning,” he said. “After acquisition, my VA resources have mainly been articles and publications that the VA has posted on their business sites.”
Apparently, it’s working. Five Star Painting of Charleston recently celebrated its first $100,000 sales month, and every single online review since the McManus takeover has been, appropriately, five stars.
Part of that success, McManus Sr. said, is because of his son.
“I never have to worry about the tasks KJ takes care of, because he is a true professional and his integrity is beyond reproach,” he said. “Not many business owners are as fortunate to have such a stress reliever.”
It hasn’t been all fat contracts and lollipops, though. McManus Jr. found the transition from Air Force officer to business owner challenging, from small details like no uniforms to larger ones like being at the top of the chain of command. There are no exact manuals for troubleshooting; you’re somewhat on your own. That’s why he recommends that fellow veteran business owners reach out to each other for support and advice.
But mostly, the two Kevins are simply grateful.
“I am truly blessed to have all my children and grandchildren living in Charleston,” said McManus Sr. “Every day I celebrate Father’s Day, and I thank God for this honor.”
