Arizona icon Tex Earnhardt leaves his amazing legacy behind

Earnhardt Auto Centers founder and patriarch Hal “Tex” Earnhardt, Jr. died at the age of 89, leaving three children and several grandchildren. The company confirmed this news April 19 on its website. 

Tex Earnhardt was a household name in Arizona for decades. He grew up in Texas before moving to Arizona with his family as a teen. He was a rodeo cowboy and worked at the family gas station located on Arizona Avenue in Chandler. 

Scoring a Ford franchise at age 20 made Tex the youngest Ford franchise owner. Earnhardt Ford, the first of many Earnhardt Auto Centers locations, started in 1951 in Chandler. 

Earnhardt Auto Centers continued to expand and open more dealerships, gaining recognition around the Valley and state. Tex became known as the straight-shooting cowboy car dealer who offered no-nonsense deals. 

Tex’s iconic commercials ran for decades on TV, in local publications and on Valley billboards. The commercials featured Tex riding a steer and saying his signature tagline, “That ain’t no bull.” On social media, fans shared memories of Tex’s no-nonsense business approach and his generosity to the community. Tex Earnhardt truly left his mark on generations of Arizonans.  

Over the years, the Earnhardt brand grew to 23 dealerships representing 17 brands, with locations in the Phoenix and Las Vegas markets. The Earnhardt family also runs two QuickLane Service Centers and two body shops, and has nearly 3,000 full- and part-time employees throughout the organization. 

Earnhardt’s sons, Hal and Jim Babe, joined Tex in the business, and so did several of his grandchildren. Family members still run Earnhardt Auto Centers and Earnhardt Ranches, and Tex was regularly involved in day-to-day business.

Tex Earnhardt with grandson Derby

“The company today is based on values that Tex instilled in all of us,” said grandson Dodge Earnhardt in a statement. “‘Treat everyone the way you’d treat your Mama,’ and ‘People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care’ are a few core sayings from Tex that we hold dear.” 

While the family mourns the loss of Tex Earnhardt, they plan to continue running and expanding Earnhardt Auto Centers, according to a statement on their website. The company will surely continue to thrive as a memory to Tex Earnhardt. And that ain’t no bull!

Last Updated on 04/21/2020 by Carolyn Sostrom

About the Author:

Carolyn Sostrom

Biography:

Carolyn Sostrom is a long-time Arizona resident who loves desert sunsets, warm weather, Zumba, and the Western lifestyle.

She attended Saguaro High School in Scottsdale and then Arizona State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Similarly to the protagonist in *The Devil Wears Prada*, Carolyn moved to New York City right after college. She started working for the fashion magazine company Conde Nast but never transitioned to the dark side. After a few years, she left New York in the rearview mirror and returned to her home state, taking a reporter job at the *Apache Junction Independent*.

With over 30 years of freelance writing experience, Carolyn especially enjoys writing about community events and profiling individuals who are making a difference in their communities. She had the pleasure of interviewing a variety of cowboy personalities for an article she wrote for the *Scottsdale Independent* about the history of DC Ranch and its roots as a working ranch. Now, her Western adventures with CLN have her diving into the rugged automotive scene, exploring the trucks and rigs cowboys rely on for work, home, and play, a niche where grit meets horsepower.

She works at Raising Special Kids, a nonprofit resource center for families of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. Carolyn also volunteers with the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix.

Carolyn believes that everyone has a story, and she loves connecting with others to hear their stories. She’s dedicated to ethical journalism and accurate reporting, which shines through in her storytelling.

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