San Antonio — The team at Thad Ziegler Glass has something to celebrate.
"We are extremely proud because we are the oldest glass company owned by the same family in the whole United States," Thad Ziegler Glass, Ltd., President, Thad William Ziegler said.
The 125-year-old tradition in San Antonio started with William Ziegler back in 1893.
"My grandfather who started it he was by himself I think. I was even told that he had a bicycle and he had a box on both sides of the rear wheel he carried glass in there, Thad Max Ziegler said.
After his passing, the business was handed down to his wife.
That's when his son Thad C. joined the company.
"When my great-grandfather started the business he was doing paint, wallpaper, and glass, and when my grandfather joined the business [...] he concentrated on glass,” T.W. Ziegler said.
The family began refocusing their efforts to the auto and window glass business.
Continuing the tradition would be his son, Thad Max Ziegler.
"I fell in love with it. It was my life then and then I had my son and two grandsons, so it's been a wonderful trip," Thad Max Ziegler said.
Thad W. or TW as he likes to be called now runs the operation that spans throughout San Antonio and South Texas.
Also joining in on the family business, are his two sons.
The Ziegler family seeing the glass industry change and evolve over the last century
"When I first started in the business it was basically four colors now it's hundreds of colors of glass,” T.W. Ziegler said.
The Zieglers say it's not just the product that's kept them around.
"The product that we sell is the same as all other glass companies but it's the people it's the way it's installed. It's the way it's made to fit perfectly," T.W. Ziegler said.
It's a promise of high-quality work that Thad Ziegler Glass says they plan on continuing within the next 100 years.
"I'm thrilled how the community has accepted us,” Thad Max Ziegler said. "We're doing well and it's my son and grandsons who make it that way."