HLAVINKA EQUIPMENT

418 KIRKPATRICK ST, TAFT, TX 78390

www.hlavinka.com

Terry Hlavinka with Texas Gov. George W. Bush, Jr.

Texas Gov.George W. Bush
with Terry Hlavinka - 1998

Texas Ag Commissioner
Susan Combs with
Susan and Terry Hlavinka

Hlavinka Equipment Company has been a part of Texas

since the days of using farm animals to pull the plows.

But even then, folks knew Hlavinka was the place to go

for their equipment needs.

Terry Hlavinka (left), Joe Hlavinka (right) and former
Dallas Cowboy D.D. Lewis (center), who played for the Cowboys from 1968 until 1981 holds his 5 Super Bowl rings,
two of which were Cowboy wins.

Terry Hlavinka (General Manager)
and Joe Hlavinka (President)

Things have changed, but so has Hlavinka Equipment Co.

Please, read on...

1939-

The Beginning...

The Hlavinka and Boettcher families placed the sole bid to purchase

the Farmers Lumber Company in East Bernard, Texas.

The bid was accepted and the Boettcher-Hlavinka Co. was formed.

1940s-

The Decade of Many Adventures...

The Boettcher-Hlavinka Co. took part in numerous ventures

to meet the needs of the community.

Aside from the International Harvester farm equipment

and lumber portion of the business, other services included

automobile sales (including those fancy new turn signals & air conditioning),

and funerals (glad when the communities need for that tapered off).

1950s-

The Growth of Southern Snow

Cotton became a major crop and, as a result,

new methods of harvesting were needed.

The cotton picker became all the rage and

sore hands everywhere applauded this new miracle of the machine age.

The Hlavinka family purchased the Boettcher family shares to make

Hlavinka Equipment Co. the family business.

1960s-

Those New to the Scene and Those Bowing Out

The new two-row cotton pickers were introduced,

with Hlavinka Equipment right there to bring in the tool of the future.

Joe Hlavinka, Sr. retired from the company he began,

eager to watch and smile approvingly as his children took the helm.

1970s-

The Gains of Technology

As the technology being manufactured into farm equipment grew,

so did the costs of that equipment.

However, most would agree that the added cost was definitely worth

the quality and durability found in the new era of farm equipment.

1980s-

Companies in Transition

The 1970s saw the splitting of the Hlavinka family business

into two separate entities: the lumber side and the equipment side.

At the same time, Case and International Harvester were merging,

creating one of the most recognized names in the implement industry,

Case IH.

1990s-

The Decade of Growth & Service

New stores were opened in Rosenberg, Nome, El Campo, Bay City and

Taft, Texas, with the goal of serving their respective communities

in the same manner Joe Hlavinka, Sr. had envisioned in 1939.

2001-

Another Store Purchased

Hlavinka Company purchases another location to serve their

customers from Tivoli, Texas in the same manner Joe Hlavinka, Sr.

had envisioned in 1939.

Today-

The Merging of the Past, Present, & and the Future

The Hlavinka Company, still owned

and operated by the Hlavinka family,

enjoys a rich past, full of amusing stories of

old farm animals traded for new farm equipment,

lumber trains, and, yes, even caskets stored in the warehouse rafters.

Much has changed in these many decades,

but so much has remained the same:

A family's concern for their community

A company's dedication to being the best

An industry's growth and constant improvement

to meet the needs of the future.

Case Honors Hlavinka Equipment for Sales
In the photo: Steve Hlavinka-Parts Manager, Allan Srubar-Service Manager,
Terry Hlavinka-General Manager, Don Perekovich-Case Business Manager, Joe Hlavinka Jr.-President, Lance Potts-Sales Manager.

Hlavinka Equipment Co.

Serving the world's best customers since 1939,

with no plans of stopping now...