Tex Earnhardt

Tex Hal Earnhardt (December 9, 1930 - April 19, 2020) was an American entrepreneur born in Southern Texas.[1][2] He was the founder and CEO of Earnhardt Auto Centers, an automotive dealership company. [3][4]

Early life and education

Earnhardt grew up around the Rio Grande Valley, Texas. He moved with his family to Chandler, Phoenix in the late 1940s.[5][6] Earnhardt dropped out of school in the 10th grade. [7]

Personal life

Earnhardt has a daughter, Debra Earnhardt, and two sons, Hal and Jim Babe Earnhardt.[8][9]

Career

After dropping out of school, Earnhardt learned team roping and horseback riding and became a rodeo cowboy.[1][2] After that, started working at his father’s gas station and sold auto parts.[10]

Earnhardt Auto Centers

Earnhardt set up Earnhardt Auto Centers in 1951 and the company has grown from 1 to 24 dealerships, representing 18 brands, employing more than 2,200 people.[6] According to Automotive News Data Center’s top 125 dealership group data, in 2012, the company sold 19,049 new and 9,793 used vehicles in 2012. [9][4] The company is headquartered in Chandler, Arizona.

Philanthropy

Earnhardt was a financial supporter of several children’s causes, including the East Valley Boys and Girls Club, Child Crisis Center, Make a Wish Foundation, and Head Start. In June 2019, he donated $240,000 to Phoenix Children’s Hospital. [11][12][2]

Death

Earnhardt passed away on April 19, 2020, at the age of 89 due to natural causes.[13][8][14]

References
  1. "80 years old, and that ain't no bull". archive.azcentral.com. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  2. "He started out selling 1 car at a time, now his dealerships do 32,000 a year". WardsAuto. 2001-10-01. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  3. Writer, Dawson Fearnow, Tribune Contributing. "Tex Earnhardt's folksy charm has sold cars for 65 years". East Valley Tribune. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  4. Sostrom, Carolyn (2018-02-23). "Family still at the center of Earnhardt family business". Cowboy Lifestyle Network. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  5. Martinez, Jennifer (2020-04-19). "Iconic Arizona auto dealer Tex Earnhardt dies at 89". FOX 10 Phoenix. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  6. Blufish (2020-04-20). "Tex Earnhardt dies at 89". AZ Big Media. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  7. Anglen, Robert. "Tex Earnhardt, colorful founder of car dealership empire, dies at 89". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  8. "Tex Earnhardt: From rodeo cowboy to Arizona icon". KNXV. 2020-02-10. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  9. "3 generations, 1 plan". Automotive News. 2014-01-20. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  10. "Tex Earnhardt of Earnhardt Auto Centers has died at 89". AZFamily. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  11. "Tex Earnhardt Continues Loving On Arizona After Death: ICYMI". Phoenix, AZ Patch. 2020-04-22. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  12. "City honors Earnhardt Family" (PDF). North Central News. June 2019.
  13. "Beloved Arizona Auto Dealer Tex Earnhardt Dies At 89". Phoenix, AZ Patch. 2020-04-20. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
  14. "Tex Earnhardt, founder of Earnhardt Auto Centers, dies at 89". 12news.com. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
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