Peterbilt celebrates 70th anniversary

Peterbilt Motor Co. shut down its production lines early Thursday afternoon in honor of the company’s 70th birthday.
The event marked more than a company celebration; it honored a 30-year relationship between the business and the Denton community, said Susan Bishop, human resources team leader.

“It’s just a very special event, and I have pride saying that. The people mean so much to me,” Bishop said. “To see the trucks on the road, it’s a sense of pride knowing I’m a part of that.”
Bishop was hired for the Denton plant in 1980 as employee No. 14 while the facility was still under construction, she said.

But over time, as people left or retired, she eventually moved to the No. 1 employee slot.
Between 1,000 and 1,500 employees, including Bishop, attended the company’s milestone event and celebrated the first truck tinkered together in 1939.

There were also company retirees, dealers and community leaders at the event.
Mayor Mark Burroughs said he was proud to have the Peterbilt image of quality in the Denton community.
“Peterbilt has a special place in Denton,” he said. “I’d love for the imagery of Peterbilt — quality, caring and first class — to rub off on the community. You can’t get much better than that.”

The Peterbilt business has continued to evolve over time, taking the truck company’s market share up nearly 10 percent over 70 years and leading to a more diverse customer base, said Jim Fykes, plant manager.
Instead of cookie-cutter production, Peterbilt’s ability to custom-build trucks and maintain resale value has led to the company holding onto its market share despite troubling economic times, Fykes said.
Peterbilt reached the 70th anniversary mile marker stronger than when it started, said Bill Jackson, general manager of Peterbilt Motor Co. and vice president of parent company PACCAR Inc.