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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-07-01, Page 21Pe A20 - Godench Signal -Star, Wednesday, July 1, 2009 Photo courtesy of Westcoast Photography One of Goderich's largest employers and a staple in the community, McGee Motors is celebrating 80 years of business in 2009. Above, staff and family pose for a group shot to commemorate the 80th anniversary of one of Goderich's longest -running family-owned businesses. McGee Motors celebrates 80 years of family - -Gerard Cr.....a signal -star sue . Taking time for your custom- ers, taking care of your staff and taking pride in your community; there is good reason McGee Mo- tors Ltd. has survived 80 years cif business in Goderich. The auto dealership has had a colourful history in town, one centred around the community and one which has made them one of Goderich's longest and largest employers to date. The McGee Motors story be- gan in April, 1929, when Reg McGee bought out brother Jack's car business - a sub -dealer for Chrysler -Plymouth. Reg opened up a small shop on Hamilton Street where Dundee Private Investors is currently lo- cated. The McGees worked hard throughout the Great Depres- sion, and Ken said selling cars involved the entire family.. "My father would buy an old Model T for twenty dollars, my mother would be up half the night stuffing all the horsehair back in the seats and stitching them up," he said. "Then dad would try to sell that for $35." In the 1940s, auto Manufactur- ing was superceded by the war effort, and factories were pro- ducing military equipment rather than cars: Ken said the McGee family car business had to adapt accord- ingly, and so Reg focused on service, claiming "Rcg McGee is the man to see" in a 1942 adver- tising slogan. Reg was very fond of horses, and often would accept the ani- mals as part of a trade-in for a new vehicle. "It was nothing for him to take anything on dealer trade," said Ken, "Horses, equipment, farm animals.." Brother Alvin recalled a par- ticularly full stable one year. "One winter we had 40 hors- es to feed," he said. "Most had come in on deals of one kind or another." In 1947, following the pur- chase of five lots on Hamilton Street, Reg built "one of the most modern garages of the day," Ken said. Hoists, overhead equipment and a state of the art garage her- alded a new era of service for the McGee family business, and Ken recalled how he sold his first car to his future -wife's grandfather at age 12 - a 1952 Dodge. "I took in a '45 Chevrolet Coupe on it," he said. The Hamilton Street building lasted nearly 60 years. In 2004, the McGee Motors building on Suncoast Drive was officially opened, complete with a huge showroom, service and pick-up bays, which Ken said still al- lows customers to "feel like they are driving it off the showroom floor." Reg and wife Della had four sons: Len, Alvin, Ron and Ken, All four were destined to be in the car business, with Ken and Alvin still at the dealership to- day. When Alvin sold his share to son Martyn, it marked the third generation of McGee% to add their name to the family business, and Ken said things arc looking The above mortgage, signed by Reg and John (Jack) McGee in 1929, marks the birth of McGee Motors in Goderich, good for a fourth generation to take the helm, Ken's son, Darcy, also works at the dealership. The feeling of. family is not limited to whose name is on the sign. Ask any employee at Mc- Gee Motors and they will tell you the feeling is more that of a family than of staff. "it'sc a good family atmosphere here," said John Good. Good has been working at McGee Motors for 32 years, getting a job right out of school. More than just providing a paycheque, McGee's provided opportunities he said. "I think we all started out on the oil rack," he mused. "But then I moved on to my appren- ticeship." Marlow Austin said job secu- rity and community involvement have made McGee Motors the only place he would, even think about working "They've been;.Ott the com- munity for 80 Oars," he said. "Where else would. you, want to. work?" The pride the mechanics take in their work is apparent in their straight -forward approach with customers. No unnecessary work is done or sold to customers, and that comes from the top down, they said. "You have to be proud to work in a place as honest as this," 'said Good. Service manager Brian Fish- er has been at McGees for 12 years. The open-door policy at the dealership allows both he and Ken to have first-hand contact with customers either on the sales floor or the service hay. He added that support also stretches to the Goderich communtiy. "The Makes are very gener- ous and always in full support of the community," he said. McGee Motors has always been strongly involved in t,oder- ich, providing funding, facilities, volunteers or whatever other type of support is needed. Two weeks ago, the Special Olympics torch run enjoyed their annual wrap-up barbecue at the dealership, and even during the interview, Ken was busy going back and forth from the picnick- ers to the dealership, making sure everyone took a moment() of their visit home with them. McGees is a proud sponsor of many sports teams, and in par- ticular, the Reg McGee trophy is still awarded to the 'B' Cham - .pion team each and every Young Canada Week. Each year the dealership holds a car seat clinic, working hand- in-hand with the health unit help- ing parents protect their children on the road and has contributed greatly to the Maitland Medical Clinic, YMCA and the CT scan- ner campaigns. Outside the McGee Motors business hours, Alvin serves and has served with the Lions Club for years while Ken is an active member of the Rotary Club, and a past Kinsman. Community support goes be- yond cutting a cheque for char- ity, Ken said. It means keeping a healthy, happy atmosphere for staff and acknowledging the re- sponsibility of being one of the town's largest employers. Ken has scrapbooks document- ing nearly every year in McGee Motors' history, and through them all, there are sports teams, family memories, community Continued on next page.