By Denny Deady | Published Thursday, August 27, 2009
After beginning his business in 1968, James McGilvray, owner of Saginaw Implement Co., moved his John Deere dealership in the mid-1970s from Saginaw to Rhome. He grew Saginaw Implement Co. Inc. to one of the top John Deere dealerships in North Texas.
Four generations of McGilvrays have been a part of the company's success since its inception - with customer service being the priority. With customers ranging from farmers and ranchers to commercial landscapers and homeowners the company has continued to strive for quality relationships with its customers.
In a continued effort to better serve its customers, Saginaw Implement Co. will now become a part of Ag-Power Inc.
Manager Annette Davidson, the third generation of her family at the business and Sales Manager Clay McGilvray, also a third generation, said, "We'll be able to offer the customer more products and services." Davidson continued, "All the customer will see is a different sign out front, Clay and I will stay. We're just becoming part of a bigger family."
The dealership will continue to offer the popular Ready to Mow program, providing mobile maintenance to customers throughout North Texas. This onsite maintenance service is especially popular in urban areas where the mower service is performed onsite, even if the residents are away from home or at work. The dealership will also continue to have full service parts, sales and service departments, as well as a showroom with accessories, clothing and popular collector toys.
Jack Radke, sole owner of Ag-Power Inc., has also been with John Deere since the mid 1970s. Ironically, Radke was James McGilvray's liaison with John Deere when Saginaw Implement was moved from Saginaw to Rhome. Radke spent his initial eight years with John Deere in the Fort Worth area and was then transferred to Wichita, Kan., to run a company owned store. After 12 years with John Deere, Radke and his wife moved back to Texas in hopes of purchasing a dealership.
In 1988 that goal was attained as they became part owners of Settle Machinery in McKinney. In 1991, Radke opened a dealership in Terrell, and then in 1996, he purchased the John Deere dealership in Mineola. It was at this point that he changed the name to Ag-Power Inc. With the purchase of the Rhome location, Ag-power now encompasses 10 dealerships with the other locations in Mt. Pleasant, Sherman, Sulphur Springs, Tyler, Athens and Paris.
This fall, customers will see a new sign on the Saginaw Implement door. However, the same business philosophy of customer service that was started by James McGilvray and his father, Fred, 41 years ago, will remain unchanged.
