Happy Birthday Waters Columbus

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COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – A Columbus business known world-wide is celebrating 75 years of sales and service to it’s many customers. Operating first in the Friendly City since 1938, Waters Truck And Tractor expanded their business to Meridian in 1976 and into Kosciusko in 1982. They are now in six locations operating as a logging Equipment, trailer dealer, wrecker company, and they also provide school bus sales services and maintenance.

They may be celebrating well over seven decades as a successful business, but actually in the 1920’s Ray M. Waters, Sr. and his brother Earl operated a Buick Dealership and auto repair shop on Main Street in the old Commercial Dispatch Building. Mike Waters knows the family history well.

Focusing on customer satisfaction coupled with good coaching from their elders seems to be key to the longevity of this international operation.

“We strive to deliver the best quality service and in a timely manner and be complete in our services. Not just part of it but have a complete operation that can service any need that they may have come up,” said Mike Waters.

“Did business with his dad and all back in the 70’s and then after I worked for him I came out to Lowndes County and wound up in this position here and I’ve been a customer of theirs ever since,” said James Patrick, Former Employee.

School bus sales and servicing, a wrecker company, logging equipment, and trailer dealer makes Waters a diversified business. Waters branched out into the Meridian market in 1977. Starting with seven employees, they have grown to staff 65 workers.

“And the future for Meridian is very bright. It probably will involve an expansion in the next few years because we have worked ourselves out of room,” said M. L. Waters, Waters Meridian.

With Michael Waters finishing up college and back at the business since 2005, a fourth generation of Waters is expected keep the tradition alive for maybe seven more decades.

“I hope there is going to be more expansion. We, my cousin and I have big shoes to fill and I think so far we’ve been taught pretty well, but we got a lot of learning to do left. And hope to continue growing,” said Michael Waters.

At the big celebration there were trucks, a driver educational simulator, laser shoot, vendors, music, and good food