Back in 1953, Bert Boeckmann joined the Galpin Motors team when it was a small dealer just trying to make ends meet, but now, 70 years later, that same dealer has turned into a literal empire spanning 12 brands with $1 billion in annual revenue that employs more than 1,000 people. Galpin Ford was also the top-selling Ford dealer in the world by volume for 29 years in a row before losing that title a few years ago, but remains among the best of that particular bunch. Sadly, however, a big part of that success is no longer with us, as Bert Boeckmann has passed away at the age of 92, according to Los Angeles Daily News.
Boeckmann passed away peacefully, surrounded by friends and family, which is fitting for a man known for treating everyone with kindness and respect. “The thing that had the biggest impact at Galpin and the biggest impact in our family is the true love that he had in his heart for people from all walks of life,” said his son Beau Boeckmann, president and COO of Galpin Motors. “To me that is his biggest and lasting legacy.”
“Bert was an automotive legend and a true American hero, who stood apart with all of his accomplishments, but you would never know it based on how he made you feel,” said the Boeckmann family in a statement on his death. “He always welcomed everyone with whom he interacted with open arms, treated them with respect, and went to great lengths to make sure they felt listened to and that they were treated fairly.”
Boeckman began his career at Galpin Ford as a salesperson when he was just 22 years old, but by 1957, he had already worked his way up to general manager, after which he became president in 1964 and the sole owner in 1968. Since then, he has been recognized with many distinct honors, including a spot in the Automotive Hall of Fame, the Presidential Citation for Private Sector Initiatives, and a place in the Ford Hall of Fame – becoming the first dealer to receive that honor.
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