Hundreds of customers, friends and family members came together Friday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Double D Meat Company, at the business’s headquarters on Louisiana Highway 21.

T.S. “Dutch” Stogner Sr. started the company in 1967, and it is now being managed by the third generation of the Stogner family. His fellow founder was Don E. Johnson, and together Dutch and Don were known as the “Double D Boys.”

The company’s brand of smoked sausage is now sold in markets as far away as Chicago and Los Angeles. It processes more than 18,000 pounds of meat products each day.

“The community has always been very good to us, and we always like having the chance to return the favor,” operator Josh Stogner said. “We’ve always had a close relationship with our customers.

“My dad and uncle (Tillman and Mike Stogner) did a great job of following my grandpa (Dutch Stogner). And now, hopefully me and my brother (Tom Stogner) can keep it going for another 50 years or longer.”

During the anniversary celebration, Double D Meat Company not only provided a lunch — including their signature sausages — but also gave away numerous items including T-shirts, cutting boards and cups. Members of the fourth generation of the Stogner family helped with giving out those items to the visiting customers.

“Thank you so much for honoring us with your presence,” Tillman Stogner said, following the lunch. “In 1967, a young man had a vision for his family to open a meat market, and this is his legacy. We don’t have customers — we have friends. Y’all are like our family.”

During the celebration, Tillman and Mike Stogner were presented with several gifts, including matching watches. They also displayed the business’s grand opening ad that originally ran in The Daily News. The specials for the Aug. 12, 1967, grand opening day included round roast for 71 cents a pound, and T-bone steaks for 89 cents a pound.

“It’s quite an honor and a blessing to see everyone here today,” Tom Stogner said. “The Lord’s been very good to our family.”