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Celebrating 50 Years

2002 marks the 50th anniversary of Mustang Tractor & Equipment Company. This is a very special occasion for us, commemorating the vision of our founders, a partnership with a stellar manufacturer, the diligent efforts of our employees and, most importantly, the support of our many customers. We would like to share with you a brief chronological stroll down memory lane from the past half century of Mustang history.

A territory on the brink of tremendous growth and a product to serve that growth with a reputation as the standard of the industry. Otis Massey, Frank Tucker and Earl Calkins knew they had a very special combination when they opened the doors of Mustang Tractor and Equipment Company on June 1, 1952. All three were successful Houston businessmen, Massey was a former mayor of the city.

From the first location on Katy Road, through the most recent Rental Store opening in November, 2001, Mustang continues its commitment to you, our customer, and your individual equipment needs.


Left to right: Otis Massey, Earl Calkins and Frank Tucker, the founders of Mustang Tractor & Equipment Co.		Mr. Massey signs the Dealer Agreement, June 1, 1952, naming Mustang the exclusive Caterpillar dealer for 35 counties in Southeast Texas.		The Gulf Tractor & Equipment Co. is purchased by Otis Massey, Earl Calkins and Frank Tucker on June 1, 1952.

Within a year, a 51,000 square foot building at 7777 Washington Avenue in Houston was completed and became Mustang’s new home. Touted as one of the finest equipment dealer facilities in the United States, its grand opening attracted some 4,500 guests.


The original facility was located on Katy Road but construction of the new building at 7777 Washington Ave. began almost immediately.		A track press machine removes pins and bushings at the Washington Ave. facility (circa 1959).

Bringing Caterpillar products and services closer to our customers in the 35-county Southeast Texas territory quickly became a top priority. A full-service store in El Campo and a parts facility in Lufkin opened in 1956. In the 60’s, the Houston store was expanded, and a full-service facility was added in Beaumont.


Construction began in August, 1964 on Mustang’s second branch store which would be located in Beaumont, Texas.		The parts counter in El Campo (circa 1958).


February 19,1955 brings the formal Grand Opening of the first Mustang branch store located in El Campo, Texas. The size of this facility would double by 1957 and expand again in 1973 to better serve the needs of our customers.		The first Mustang facility in Lufkin opened as a parts store in June 1956.

In April of 1960, Houston was named America’s sixth largest city. Mustang became the Houston area Towmotor lift truck dealer in 1969 (Caterpillar had acquired the Towmotor Corporation in 1965). A new full-service facility was opened in Lufkin in 1970, and Mustang’s first Truck Service Center opened at the Washington Avenue store in 1971.


Construction began in July 1969 on the full-service Lufkin store with a formal opening 11 months later.		The Truck Service Center formally opened at Washington Ave. in 1971.

The demand for construction equipment had seen remarkable growth, but so had the demand for Caterpillar industrial engines and engine packages. In 1975, Mustang Power Products, Inc., a separate wholly owned subsidiary, was created to focus on the engine business. A year later, work began on a 30,000 sq. ft. building at Washington Avenue devoted exclusively to assembling engine packages.


Mustang Power Systems and Caterpillar are able to create solutions for any size engine need.

Meanwhile, Mustang’s growing pains were intensifying along with the dynamic Houston area economy. The company began construction on a new headquarters on a 20-acre site in Northwest Houston. This new headquarters, when completed in 1978, would be the finest, most up-to-date Caterpillar dealer facility in the country.


"Roading" the equipment from Washington Ave. to the new 290 facility, December, 1977.		April 1, 1978 marked the Grand Opening of Mustang’s new facility at 12800 Northwest Freeway.

The decade of the 80’s brought many challenges to large and small businesses nationwide. However, due to progressive thinking and a sound economic foundation, Mustang was able to weather the storm, even expanding to the Bryan-College Station area by 1985. That same year Mustang’s first "mini-branch" opened its doors in Alvin to serve southeast Harris, Brazoria and Galveston Counties. Other mini-branches followed in Conroe and Freeport. The Alvin store was later moved to La Marque.		The Conroe facility was one of several mini-branches opened to better serve the needs of our customers. Mustang Rental Services opened adjacent to this facility in January, 1995.

1989 found the Houston economy on the rebound, providing an encouraging outlook for Mustang Rental Services, a new short term rental enterprise which opened on the east side of Houston in Channelview. As the first rental house to offer the option of a larger, more current machine fleet, consisting primarily of Cat equipment, the phones were soon ringing off the walls.		The first Mustang Rental Services facility opened its doors in Channelview in September, 1989.

Mustang Rental Services quickly became an unqualified success, adding seven facilities in the next 12 years, in Nederland, Freeport, Conroe, Bryan, Lufkin, NW Houston and SW Houston, once again, bringing our products and services closer to our customers. The stores are, collectively, now known as Mustang Rental Services, the Cat Rental Store, in keeping with the corporate identity that was introduced in the late 90’s.

On the anniversary of its 50th year of operation, Mustang sincerely thanks the thousands of friends and neighbors who have made our business a pleasure, as well as the hundreds of employees who have delivered the top-notch service we promised from the beginning. We are thankful and proud to be a part of the Texas community. We view ourselves to be a member of a team - your team - and look forward to the next 50 years as your Southeast Texas Caterpillar Dealer.

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