If you want to know the secret to longevity in business just ask any of the third or fourth generation of the Waters family in Meridian and other areas of the state.

The Mississippi company will host an 80-year anniversary celebration as an International dealer from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31 at the Waters International Trucks location at 65 Highway19 North in Meridian.

The Meridian business opened in 1977, but the first Waters’ business was opened by Raymond Waters Sr. in Columbus. First he operated a car dealership and then in 1938 he began a Buick and International dealership, said Josh Waters, 32, great-great grandson of Raymond Waters Sr.

“When Ray Sr., passed away his son, Ray Jr., had to be declared a legal adult at 17 in order for him to take over the business,” Waters said. “The business expanded to Kosciusko in 1982, Natchez in 2002 and Hattiesburg in 2007.”

Ray Jr. had three sons, Mike, David and M.L., and each have a son, Michael, Vaughan and Josh. The six together now operate the company.

Though there’s no magic secret to being in business 80 years, Waters said it’s about treating your customers and employees right. His father and uncle went straight into the family business as did he.

“I never intended on doing anything different,” Waters said. ‘We are lucky to have good people who work here and great customers; very lucky and privileged.”

The company employs 250 people and Waters credits them with the longevity of the business.

“Those people are how we’ve stayed in business and why we’ve been here 80 years,” Waters said. “They are the face of Waters and I’ve been coming here since I was a child. A lot of them raised me.”

Not only is the business a generational effort, the customers and employees are generational as well, Waters said.

“To grow together with our customers and employees has been a long-standing relationship,” Waters said. “We’ve had to have that in order to sustain our business and have always done what’s right for the customers even if it was bad for us.”

That loyalty and dedication has paid off. Waters International has won International’s “Circle of Excellence” award more than any other dealer, Waters said. The company sells and services International trucks, commercial vehicles, class four through eight, 15 different trailer bodies, school buses and Jerr-Davis wrecker bodies.

In addition to sales and service for trucks and other commercial vehicles, Waters sells hunting stands, ATVs and logging equipment. Waters said the parts department contains around $5 million in inventory.

Through 80 years they have adapted.

Waters is also committed to the communities in which they live. “We participate in OBR, (Operation BBQ Relief,) and have an employee here who is very dedicated to this,” Waters said.

The non-profit group is serving in Florida by providing 70,000 meals a day after the devastation caused by Hurricane Michael. 

There will be some OBR championship cooks at the anniversary celebration event Wednesday, which will recognize Waters’ customers, vendors and partners.

Waters said by having some of the OBR members there Wednesday, it will help raise awareness of a group that has served 2.1 million meals in 25 states since 2011.

Wednesday’s event will include giveaways, parts specials and more. Invitations were sent out earlier this month for the celebration. For more information, call (601) 693-4807.