Luxaire distributor looks back at a half century of changes and growth.

LAKE CHARLES, La. - Solar Supply Inc., a Luxaire Heating and Air Conditioning distributor, celebrated its 50th anniversary Nov. 3 with a dinner at the Lake Charles Civic Center in Lake Charles, La. Managers representing the 49 branch locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, and vendor representatives joined other Solar Supply employees to mark the occasion.

Founded in 1954 by the late Ray L. Dingler, Solar Supply originally employed two people in a 2,000-square-foot facility in downtown Lake Charles. Today, the HVAC parts and supplies wholesaler employs 225 people across five states and operates a 100,000-square-foot warehouse in the Lake Charles area. Last year, the company's annual sales totaled $60 million.