Ally Supplement - December 16, 2019 - A7

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W.P. Bone, III
Dealer principal
Wilson County Motors; Lebanon, Tenn.
Nominated by Bob Weaver, Tennessee
Automotive Association

the
nominees:
Edward Babcock
Dealer principal
Junction Auto Family; Chardon, Ohio
Nominated by Lou Vitantonio, Greater Cleveland
Automobile Dealers' Association

Junction Auto, founded in 1931 by Edward Babcock's greatgrandfather and grandfather, still stands in the same location.
Today he operates it with the help of his son, Clifford. Babcock,
a former chair of the Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers'
Association and the Cleveland Auto Show, has been involved
with the Boy Scouts of America for decades, helping as a troop
leader and fundraiser. He supports a variety of local causes and
was a board member for the Chardon Healing Fund, created to
help students and parents after a 2012 shooting at Chardon High
School.

After serving four years in the U.S. Army as a cryptographer and
military-intelligence specialist, followed by college, W.P. Bone
returned to work at his father's dealership in his hometown.
Bone's two sons now are poised to take over the family business.
A supporter of educational initiatives, Bone has been chairman of
the board of trustees of his alma mater, Cumberland University,
since 2016. He also co-founded the Wilson County Teacher of the
Year program, which for 21 years has recognized the best local
teachers. Bone is especially proud of his dealership's awards
for ethical business practices in financial services and from the
Better Business Bureau.

Steven Brimhall
Dealer operator
Minnesota Motor Co.; Fergus Falls, Minn.
Nominated by Scott Lambert, Minnesota
Automobile Dealers Association

Steven Brimhall hails from an auto dealer family that has included
his grandfather-who became part owner of Minnesota Motor
in 1922-father, uncle, cousin and now his two sons. Brimhall
has provided leadership to the Minnesota Automobile Dealers
Association as chairman and has served on the group's charitable
foundation board since 2014. He chaired a capital campaign
for his alma mater, Minnesota State Community and Technical
College, to fund 53 technical classrooms. Brimhall supports a
variety of other local organizations, including the chamber of
commerce and the Otter Tail Lakes Property Owners Association.

Tommy Baker

Steve Brown

President
Baker Motor Co.; Charleston, S.C.

General manager
Frank Leta Acura; St. Louis, Mo.

Nominated by E. Sims Floyd Jr., South Carolina
Automobile Dealers Association

Nominated by Doug Smith, Missouri Automobile
Dealers Association

Tommy Baker is a true "hometown hero" who says he has
contributed "fiercely" to his Charleston community. After high
school, he spent four years in the U.S. Marine Corps, then returned
to South Carolina and graduated from The Citadel. Forty-five
years after graduating, his generosity helped establish The
Citadel's Tommy & Victoria Baker School of Business. He also
taught entrepreneurship classes at the College of Charleston for
22 years. Besides starting a Mercedes-Benz dealership 30 years
ago, Baker is founder and chairman of Beacon Community Bank.
Baker Motor was among the Automotive News Best Dealerships
to Work For in 2015.

When Steve Brown turned 16, he started working part time at his
grandfather's Honda dealership in Bridgeton, Mo. By the time he
graduated from college, Brown had decided to make a career of
it. He spent time at the NADA Academy in 2006 and took over as
general manager of his Acura dealership in 2008. Brown helped
establish the Frank Leta Charitable Foundation, which provides
reliable transportation to those in need. All told, 50 local charities
and organizations have received transportation assistance from
the foundation. Brown also supports the Leukemia & Lymphoma
Society and has served in leadership positions with the Missouri
Automobile Dealers Association.

DECEMBER 2019 | ally | 7

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