Don Whittenburg started doing business with Mercury Marine in 1962. He bought his first boat from the dealership in 1968. Over the years Whittenburg has seen both a father and a son in charge of operations, but in 2016 one thing is still the same, he’s still doing business with Mercury Marine.

“I’m not one of the bigger customers, but I’ve been around for a long time,” he said. “I’ve been real pleased with everything I’ve seen.”

C.A. and Doris Sims originally opened the establishment in 1962 on China Street. The pair moved the business to Levee Street and again to U.S. 61 North.

“When they set up the business, they set it up as Mercury Marine,” their son Donny Sims said. “Way back when, they had to sign a waiver so the big corporation Mercury Marine could operate in Mississippi. It was a real hoot, that’s for sure.”

“They were the biggest Yamaha and Mercury dealers in the South,” Donny’s wife Gloria Sims said of her in-laws. “They actually sent Donny’s parents to Japan twice.”

After working for the business since age 9, Donny became president and owner in 2001. Gloria joined him in 2005 after retiring from 30 years as an educator and administrator with Warren County Schools and Vicksburg Warren School District.

“Now I’m a certified outboard marine technician,” Gloria said of her change in careers. “You’re never too old. I can’t really work on them, but I can look up parts.”

For Donny, the decision to work with boats came much sooner. He began working full time for Mercury Marine in 1975 after graduating from Mississippi College with a business degree.

“I’ve known all my life this is what I was going to do,” he said. “I just grew up with it.”

As of Monday, the business received a new home at Eagle Lake, 17425 Mississippi 465, just steps away from the Sims’ home. Mercury Marine will continue to provide outboard marine sales, service parts and accessories.

“We do a lot of service work, and we do a little sales, but really we do a little bit of everything,” Donny said. “We sell Weldbilt, which is a johnboat or a utility boat. It does a real good job, and we sell a lot of them to Magnolia and Golding Barge and all the towboat companies around the country.”

While the Sims are the only employees of Mercury Marine, they said they couldn’t make it without David Cummins who helps them out as a hobby.

“We couldn’t do it without him,” Gloria said. “He’s just been really helpful.”