The Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Selma celebrated 65 years at 1400 West Highland Avenue Wednesday with an anniversary celebration including food, games, music from WDXX, prizes and Pepsi soft drinks.

The landmark building on Highland Avenue served as a bottling facility from the time it was built in 1954 until the late 70s and now serves as a distribution center serving four counties, including Marengo, Perry, Wilcox and Dallas.

“We just wanted to show our appreciation for the community,” said Cheyenne Bradford, Vice President and Director of Operations at the Facility. “We serve four counties, but Dallas is our main one.”

Bradford began at Pepsi as a salesman and driver nearly 41 years ago – “Most of those 65 years,” he said.

While much has changed at the company since 1954, Pepsi’s dedication to the community has not.

According to Selma-Dallas County Chamber of Commerce Director Sheryl Smedley, Pepsi has provided scoreboards to local ballfields and gymnasiums and sponsored countless groups in the area including parent teacher associations, booster clubs, sororities, fraternities and numerous nonprofits.

Smedley expressed her thanks the Seymour family, who have owned the company for three generations, for all the support they’ve shown the community.

“Thank you to the third generation of the Seymour family,” said Smedley. “I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Gordon Seymour and share with him all the amazing contributions this company has provided to our community and the wonderful Pepsi employees that believe in the power of their community.”