Page 34 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2023 - Online Magazine

Slaton
History

Smith Auto Family

A LEGACY OF

Service, Growth, and Family Values

by Josh Terry and Nicole Campbell

n the bustling year of 1951, Bill H. Annette and Patrick embarked on
Smith packed up his dreams and his an ambitious expansion journey,
Ifamily and made the bold move to establishing a new location in Steve and Bill Smith at 1966
Slaton, Texas. Armed with a passion for Levelland, Texas. This expansion groundbreaking on Division St.
automobiles and a background at Ford, heralded a new era, and the family
Bill ventured into the world of cars. business rebranded as "Smith South
The result? The birth of Slaton Motor Plains."
Company, a venture that would mark the and services. The legacy of Bill H. Smith
inception of a legacy. The 2010s added a new layer to the lives on, embodying the spirit of unity,
family-oriented atmosphere as two of dedication, and service that has propelled
Bill H. Smith possessed a natural Annette and Patrick’s children, Nicole Smith Auto Family through the decades.
charisma that endeared him to customers, and Tell Campbell, along with a son-in-
and his venture, the Slaton Motor law, Holden Sykora, joined the fold, truly Smith Auto Family's history is a
Company, quickly became a resounding making it a family affair. testament to the enduring values of
success. However, the real turning point family, growth, and commitment to the
came in 1965 when Bill's son, Steve Smith, Fast forward to 2021, and the journey communities they serve. Their journey
joined the family business. In 1966, father of Smith Auto Family took another from Slaton to Levelland, from Smith
and son relocated from their original significant turn. The name evolved to Ford to Smith South Plains, and now as
downtown spot to 1700 W. Division, "Smith Auto Family" in tandem with the Smith Auto Family, is a story of passion,
renaming their enterprise "Smith Ford," a acquisition of their Plainview location. perseverance, and the power of family in
name that still resonates in Slaton, Texas This transformation was more than just the world of automobiles.
to this day. a name change; it
signified a deep-
The legacy continued to evolve in 1982, rooted commitment
when Steve's daughter, Annette, officially to family values
joined Smith Ford. By 1989, she had and unwavering
ascended to the role of General Manager. dedication to
Meanwhile, in the picturesque town of delivering exceptional
West, Texas, another automotive legacy service.
was in the making at Sykora Family Ford,
where Patrick Sykora was making his Today, all three
mark. Fate had plans for Annette and Pat, locations continue to
and in 1997, they became life partners thrive. Levelland and
and business partners, merging their Plainview are fully
expertise into the Slaton dealership. operational, while
Slaton provides top-
But the story didn't stop there. In 1999, notch used car sales

PROUDLY SERVING SLATON SINCE 1952
smithautofamily.com

34 Lubbock Senior Link