Winter2017

GIVING
BACK
For 100 years, service has been the story at Fabick Cat
By Jacob Luecke
If something big is taking shape
in Missouri, it’s a safe bet that
Fabick Cat is part of the effort.
In the regions Fabick serves,
the company’s dealerships are
synonymous with the Caterpillar
brand of heavy equipment.
Machines from the company
helped build the Gateway Arch.
They aided the construction of
Bagnell Dam at the Lake of the
Ozarks. They even helped make
Missouri the crossroads of the
nation as the interstate highway
system was developed.
This year, the company is marking
its 100th year in business. With
37 locations in four states, Fabick
Cat has grown tremendously since
it was founded by John Fabick Sr.
However, even with all the changes
over the years, the company remains
committed to the motto established
by Fabick Sr. at the very start: “To
ever serve our customers better.”
Current company president Jeré
Fabick said the motto “is as true
today as it was when my grandfather
coined that phrase in 1917.”
In the early years, the company
was known for selling brands
now regarded as antiques, such
as Cletrac Tractors and C.L. Best
Tractors.
In 1921, a merger led to the
creation of the Caterpillar brand.
However, at the outset, the newly
formed Caterpillar company chose
a competitor of Fabick to sell its
tractors.
To fight being frozen out, John
Fabick introduced his own line
of equipment, Allwork Tractors.
This move convinced Caterpillar
to reverse its decision and name
Fabick its exclusive St. Louis dealer.
The ensuing decades were a
time of expansion for the business
as the economy developed and
technology advanced.
In 1972, the company moved
its headquarters to Fenton, where
it remains today. Another pivotal
moment happened in 1982 when
then-president Joe Fabick was
chosen by Caterpillar to lead
the Fabco Inc. dealerships in
Wisconsin and upper Michigan.
With experienced Fabick leaders
at the helm, Fabick Cat and Fabco
thrived in their respective regions.
Then a 2015 merger brought the
companies together — the Fabick
company was united and larger
than ever.
Today, the company remains
under strong family leadership.
“It is such an honor and privilege
to be a member of the fifth
generation and be a part of this
legacy,” said Kelli Fabick, a pricing
analyst at the company.
While several members of the
Fabick family continue to serve
in leadership roles, the company
gives much of the credit for its
success to its staff.
“It doesn’t matter whether you
have seven employees or 1,500
like we do now, it’s all about
great people,” said current CEO
Doug Fabick.
John Fabick IV, senior vice
president, said the employees are
like members of the family.
“They just need to be
acknowledged because I just can’t
say enough about how much they
mean to myself and the rest of the
Fabick family,” he said.
Now, 100 years after its founding,
Fabick Cat remains an important
member of the Missouri business
community and a critical part
of many of the biggest building
projects happening around
Missouri and the nation. The
Missouri Chamber of Commerce
and Industry honored Fabick as
the 2017 Champion of Enterprise
during the Missouri Business
Awards, held Nov. 16 at Busch
Stadium in St. Louis.
FABICK CAT
16 MISSOURI BUSINESS