Staff and family of Vetter’s Culligan in Washington sported diamonds on their clothing Thursday to celebrate a gemstone of an anniversary.

Vetter’s Culligan turns 75 years old, and to celebrate the business hosted an Alive After 5 and ribbon cutting ceremony with the Washington Chamber of Commerce, which featured free food and entertainment from the Tanya English Band. Vetter’s Culligan President Sean McCarthy is the third generation heading the business that first began in the garage of his grandfather Keith Vetter in 1946. His parents Marty and Judy McCarthy took over the business in 1981, and today they operate two distribution centers in Washington and Coralville, which serves the Washington, Fairfield, Mount Pleasant, Ottumwa, and surrounding areas. McCarthy shares how it feels to celebrate 75 years of operation, “It’s a wonderful thing, you know? There’s not a lot of businesses that have made it this long, it’s great to be part of a multigenerational business. I hope someday maybe my kids can work in this business and make it a fourth generation and keep it going for a hundred years or more, right?”

McCarthy believes a large contributor to their continued success is their team of staff who are really like family. KCII helped celebrate the occasion, broadcasting live from the Big Red Radio at the open house.