Pub. 1 2021 Issue 2

25 CONTINUED ON PAGE 26 First of all, stay extremely calm under duress in the most difficult of times. Second, be disciplined and never, ever, ever give up. And finally, do not be ruled by fear. Q: What is your educational background? A: I graduated from Great Falls High School in 1968. After high school, I started college at the University of Montana. During my first quarter there in 1969, I was in a serious car accident, after which, I was financially devastated afterward and could not return to school. At that time, I knew I was probably going to be drafted because I could not get back to school. So I joined the Marine Corps, because I wanted to be with the best, if I was going to go to war. When I came back from Vietnam, I wanted to go to school on the G.I. bill, and I tried, but then I met my love, my wife. She was young and had two little children. I now felt I had to go to work to support my family. At first, I worked full time selling shoes in Missoula, while going to school full time. The children had to go to day care, and we never saw each other. It didn’t seem feasible at the time to complete college. I then moved back to Great Falls and became a car salesman at City Motor Company. Eventually, I went to work for Rice Motors in Great Falls and was elevated to Management. Years later, after working in the car industry, I audited a few college courses in business. I knew I would not go back to get a degree, but I wanted the education. It was a good decision. Q: How did you become a dealer? Did you always want to be a dealer, or did you discover it? A: It’s interesting. I was a car salesman first, and I was eventually promoted to used car sales manager, then to general sales manager. But I was working a crazy amount of hours and still had no time with my family. We had another son by then, and my three children needed a dad. I decided it was more important to figure out how to spend more time at home, so along with my brother Mike and my spouse Bamma, we opened a used car lot. We were struggling financially, but we were making it. I became friends with Mike Tilleman, and that was serendipitous. He was a Chevrolet dealer in Havre, Montana. We did business together. He called me and asked me to partner with him and purchase the Chevrolet store in Fort Benton, which is now called JT Motors. Taylor’s Automax Buick GMC Nissan, Automotive Credit Resources, and Taylor’s Transportation would evolve from this first store. I don’t know how I would have become a new car dealer without Mike’s help. I had no financial capability, but he did, and he trusted me. He was very savvy, with significant business acumen. He was also very knowledgeable about the Automotive franchise system. Mike was a wonderful man who spent his life helping other people. He was just an incredible friend and a wonderful human being. I’m sure many stories like mine surrounded Mike Tilleman. Q: Which people have been the biggest influences on your professional life? A: Mike Tilleman is one of them. There are others, especially NADA coordinators and some fellow dealers who are involved in 20 Group. NADA has 20 groups across the country where dealers come together and solve problems. A few of those dealers were very instrumental in my life and my success. There are a number of people who helped me in that arena, and I will always be grateful for their help. Additionally, spiritual leaders in my Christian community have been important to me. I’m also a big reader, which has influenced me, and I’m a history buff, and drawn to inspirational reading.