Attending the groundbreaking ceremony on Friday for the new headquarters for Hunter Truck Sales along Route 8 in Penn Township are, from left: Bill Hunter, executive vice president; Dave Hunter, executive vice president; Linda Zervoss, Penn Township manager; Bob Hunter, chairman of the board; Harry Hunter board member and past president; Dale Pinkerton Butler County commissioner; Nancy Hunter Mycka; Jeff Hunter, CEO and president; Jessica Forsythe, architect with 4 Most Group Architects; and Brent Thomas with W.K. Thomas Associates, general contractor. The company now employs more than 700.

PENN TWP — Hunter Truck Sales continues to grow as it had a groundbreaking Friday morning for its new headquarters along Route 8.

Currently, the company’s offices are tucked into its building along Route 8 just south of the Furniture Galleries store.

The new 10,800-square-foot building will be built in the vacant lot across Route 8 from Furniture Galleries, and will be home for 50 to 60 employees.

Construction is expected to be completed in May or June.

“It’s just beyond our belief that we started in Eau Claire with 10 employees, and we’ve grown to more than 700,” said Harry Hunter, one of the sons of company founder Homer J. Hunter.

“We’ve built it all on my dad’s philosophy of taking care of the customer, taking care of people.”

In 1938, Homer Hunter opened a small service station in Eau Claire, which grew to include tires and trucks. In 1950, International Truck awarded Hunter a new truck franchise, and in 1983, Hunter added a Peterbilt franchise.

According to company President Jeff Hunter, the company has hired about 200 employees in the past 18 months and now operates 15 locations in four states, specializing in commercial trucking vehicle sales, maintenance and parts.

“We provide a lot of good jobs for a lot of good people,” said Bob Hunter, another of Homer Hunter’s sons.

Bob and Harry Hunter’s children — Jeff, Dave and Bill Hunter, as well as Nancy Hunter Mycka — represent the company’s third generation of family ownership.

“Our fourth generation is working in the company right now,” Jeff Hunter said.

“This opportunity allows us future growth opportunities, and is due to the great employees and customers we have.”

County Commissioner Dale Pinkerton commended the Hunter family for providing quality jobs in a down economy.

“I have known the Hunters since they were in Eau Claire and how they’ve grown is fantastic,” Pinkerton said.

“I wish them the very best for years to come.”