Bill Hudgins Automotive GMC Truck celebrated its 45th anniversary with special promotions May 4-7 at the dealership on Route 17 south of Gloucester Court House. The fun included hot dogs, popcorn and other food, plus giveaways and drawings for prizes such as concert tickets.

Bill Hudgins started the business, then Hudgins Oldsmobile-Pontiac (he added the GMC line in 1972), with his brother John Hudgins. Bill Hudgins, the company’s current president, later bought his brother’s interest in the business. The Hudgins brothers had purchased the F.A. Clements and Son car agency on Gloucester’s Main Street in 1971. That business had been run by Wayne, Bobbie and William Clements, of Gloucester.

In 1972, the Hudginses moved their car business to a site on Route 17 near the old airport. In 1989, the car dealership moved to its present Route 17 location.

Brad Hudgins, the company’s vice president and general manager, said the business has always featured new and used car sales, parts department and service bays. Now, they sell new GMC vehicles and pre-owned domestic and foreign vehicles from many brands.

Hudgins said they sell cars and light duty trucks, have 26 service bays to handle a wide range of preventive maintenance and repairs, and a large parts department.

Bill and Brad head a staff of 21 employees. Bill’s wife, Shirley, is secretary of the corporation, while Brad’s wife, Pam, is office manager. Many employees have worked there for 20 years and longer, Brad said, and “our employees are like family.”

The business has thrived on good vehicles, good service and many referrals, Brad said. Vehicles are built better now than when he began working at the dealership as a teenager, he said, and maintenance schedules are different resulting in less frequent oil changes and other maintenance.

The mechanics take ongoing certification courses to stay current with all of the modern technology and the computerized components of the vehicles, Brad said.

More people are holding onto their vehicles longer, Brad said, since many drivers now easily get a couple hundred thousand miles of good service from their vehicle. Many features on the vehicles like disc players and heated seats and steering wheels now come as standard equipment on many vehicles.

Being in a more rural area, Brad said, finds lots of customers coming in looking for a truck to haul trash, mulch and other items.

The Hudginses reside at Zanoni.