MIDDLEKAUFF FORD INC

Automotive > Auto and Car Accessories

Our family has had gasoline in our system from the early 1930's when my father was a Ford mechanic at Mallon Ford in Tacoma, WA. He then opened up his first gas station [Richfield] just soon after that. My brother graduated from college only to go to work for Ford Motor Company, then later opened up his own dealership with a program called Ford Dealer Development in Dallas, TX. I tried to break the mold by becoming a CPA in LA [Ernst & Ernst], they represented several large automobile dealerships in southern California. I gave in, and went to work for my brother who was part owner of the world's oldest Ford dealership in San Francisco, CA [Hughson Ford]. Working for family doesn't always work out, so I started my career away from the family in San Antonio, TX for a large chain operation. I was fortunate enough to catch the attention of Ford Motor Company and get into the same program my brother entered whereas they would finance the business in areas that had closed or BK dealerships available-and the only one available was in Salt Lake City, UT in 1982.

With only the equity from our home in TX we got started in a small Lincoln-Mercury dealership. That dealership grew to be number one in Utah in new vehicle sales for that manufacturer, and number 5 overall dealerships in used vehicles. Ford Motor Company decided they wanted to be in the retail business, and change the way it worked-and the intentions were very honorable. After 18 years I didn't want to give up what I had worked for all those years, but they had bought up all but one other dealership in the area, and I certainly didn't want to compete with my supplier so I gave in. I couldn't stand corporate life, and started looking when I found these stores in Twin Falls, which was actually 4 hours closer to our favorite place on all of this earth-a cabin in McCall, ID. Jules Harrison agreed to sell to me over the larger groups because I would move to town and take over his charity work and support the local community-which I have tried very seriously to do. My children then graduated from Twin Falls High School and now attend U of I in Moscow.

My personal mission statement is to "serve", very simple, but very rewarding. The dealerships main vision is "to be so effective that we are able to be helpful to others." Our full mission statement is below. I love cars and trucks and I am lucky to have my passion for them also be my vocation. So we basically work for the love of automobiles and the people who drive them. Giving is better than receiving.

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