Company History |
| 1983: | January
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After 65 years of experience in construction, auto, and heavy equipment dealerships, Roger Stribling and principal shareholders purchased Hughes Equipment, the John Deere dealership, and started Stribling Equipment, Inc., with stores in Jackson, Greenwood, Natchez, Meridian and Columbes. A holding company, now G & S, was also formed. |
| March
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The principal shareholders formed Empire Truck sales, Inc. with the Freightliner, Ford, and Isuzu franchises. Empire began operations in Jackson’s Stribling facility while empire’s original building was under construction. Empire moved into its own facility in Oct., 1983. |
| June
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Stribling Equipment acquired Coastal Machinery, the John Deere dealership in Hattiesburg and Gulfport. This completed Stribling Equipment’s territory. |
| 1986: | April
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Upon the death of Roger Stribling, ownership of the companies continued between the remaining principal shareholders.
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| 1987: | March
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The Komatsu franchise was acquired and Great Southern Tractor was formed as a division of Stribling.
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| 1992: |
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Stribling purchased the assets of Mississippi Road Supply, the Dresser dealer, and added it to the operations of Great Southern Tractor.
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| 1994: |
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Mobile, Alabama was added as an Empire branch.
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| 1995: |
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Philadelphia became a Stribling branch with the acquisition of the Bell Factory Store.
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| 1996: | January
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Jerry Swanson and Sherry Greener spun off GST (the Komatsu and Ford business) to a former shareholder, and the holding company, GS&L, changed its name to Greener & Swanson Enterprises.
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| 1997: |
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SelecTrucks of Jackson was formed as a joint venture with Freightliner Corporation.
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The Empire Body Shop in Jackson was acquired from KLLM. Growth and expansion in its doubling its size in its first year.
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| 1998: |
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Construction began on the new Empire building in Jackson.
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The Sterling franchise was granted and Super E Sterling was started as a division of Empire.
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Empire expanded its lines by acquiring the Thomas Bus franchise for Mississippi and the American LaFrance Emergency Vehicle for Mississippi and adjoining states.
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| 2000: |
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Empire moved into the new Jackson facility.
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| 2001: |
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Western Star trucks were added to Empire’s line of offerings.
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| 2002: |
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Empire purchased the assets of the New Orleans Freightliner dealer and opened a branch there.
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| August
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Berco/ Beard purchase- Stribling adds a Brookhaven facility and a second Hattiesburg facility to allow for separate Stribling and Empire facilities in Hattiesburg. Stribling also acquires the Southeast Mississippi Timberjack territory
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| 2004: | February
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Empire opens Pensacola branch.
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| | June
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Farrar acquisition- completes Timberjack territory by adding 19 counties.
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| 2007: |
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John Deere dealerships in Tupelo, Mississippi, Memphis, Tennessee and Jackson, TN were acquired from Nortrax by the Stribling organization giving Stribling a total of twelve locations serving our customers in Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas.
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Stribling's sister company, Empire Truck Sales, a Freightliner dealership, has locations in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Florida.
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