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Legendary customers and employees rally

By Mike Conley | The McDowell News

Published: November 8, 2009

Loyal customers gathered Saturday at Legendary Ford-Mercury to thank the dealership's staff for their years of dedicated service and also express their outrage with how the business was suddenly shut down by Ford Motor Co.
Around 200 customers, former Legendary employees and their friends came together in front of the empty showroom to vent their feelings about the recent closing. Legendary Ford-Mercury suddenly went out of business on Tuesday, Oct. 27. Tommy Calhoun, the dealer principal, said he was told by Ford representatives to shut it down after he was unable to get new financing for the dealership's mortgage. It left 22 people out of work and McDowell without a Ford dealership.
Jack Wood, a longtime Ford customer, was one of the organizers for Saturday's "customer reunion." He told the crowd of fellow Ford customers that they might have gotten a recall notice from the automaker, just like he did. Wood then read from his copy of the notice, which was somewhat "modified."
"Ford Motor Co. has decided that a trust which relates to customer loyalty and the presence of a Ford dealership in your community providing jobs for your friends and serving as a viable part of your community infrastructure is no longer a priority in our quest for corporate greed and the almighty dollar," read Wood's version of the "notice" from Ford. "We don't apologize for this situation and want to assure you that without any consideration for our loyal customers, our dedicated employees or any application of common sense we will do whatever it takes to close Legendary Ford in Marion, N.C.
"What is the issue? Ford cannot be confident that the many years of customer loyalty and employee dedication will continue at Legendary Ford in Marion, N.C. even though it is making us money," Wood continued. "Ford's priority is to make all the money and profit we can without consideration of who we hurt. We did not participate in the stimulus program and really don't care what the economy of the United States does so long as we make a profit. You chose to live in a small town in the South, get over it!"
Like many at Saturday's event, Wood said he is frustrated by Legendary Ford's closing and the automaker's refusal to state the reasons for the move.
"I don't know what else we can do," he said to the crowd. "I have literally beat my head against a wall."
Another source of anger and frustration has been the automaker's unwillingness to consider an offer made by local businessman Ford Miller, who attended Saturday's gathering. The owner of Miller Engineering and the old Marion Manufacturing plant, Miller recently made an offer to pay off the dealership's mortgage and buy the building, if Calhoun would be allowed to run the business as before. However, the automaker would not accept his offer to buy out the mortgage.
"Ford (Miller) has stepped up to the plate and said, 'What would it take?'" said Wood.
The crowd on Saturday applauded Miller for his efforts.
McDowell County and city of Marion officials have gotten involved in the effort to keep Legendary Ford-Mercury open. Wood said people from U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler's office were here on Friday talking with Calhoun and Ford representatives. But nothing more has been announced.
"To be honest with you, it really doesn't look good," said Wood.
Folks at Saturday's event talked about possibly circulating a petition and sending e-mails to Ford Motor Co. representatives.
Like many in the crowd, Wood has driven Fords for many years. He owns five of them, two of which have more than 300,000 miles on the odometer. He's counted on the service staff at Legendary to keep them running and they did. But Wood said he would not play by the corporate plan and take his business to other dealerships.
"I am not going to Morganton," he said. "I am not going to Asheville. I am not going to Forest City."
City officials have heard back from a Ford representative. Both City Manager Bob Boyette and Freddie Killough, director of the Marion Business Association, sent separate e-mails to Shawn McDermott, a manager for Ford's Southeast region. Both Boyette and Killough wrote in their own words about the need to keep the dealership open. McDermott's response to both was identical.
In his email, McDermott stated that the automaker worked very closely with Calhoun for the past 12 months to purchase the dealership.
"Unfortunately, he still has not been able to meet all the financial requirements to purchase the dealership," read McDermott's e-mail.
Some folks attending Saturday's event suspect there's more to it than that.
"Ford does not want us to know why," said Wood. "They don't care. There's all sorts of rumors going around."
Those at the "reunion" said they would send e-mails of their own to Ford Motor Co.
"Don't hesitate to get the e-mails in," said Dennis Fosler, a longtime Ford customer.
McDermott can be reached at smcderm2@ford.com. Ray Parrish, Ford's Southeast regional general manager, can be contacted at rparrish@ford.com.
Johnny Patton, another longtime customer, said, "I've dealt with the Ford place here. They've taken care of me."
But he finds it ironic he got a coupon book from the Ford dealership in Morganton in the mail only a day or two after Legendary was shut down.
Those who have resided in McDowell many years talked about how long a Ford dealership has existed in Marion. One brought a framed ad for the Ford place from 1937. Some even brought their restored vintage cars and trucks as examples of their dedication.
Ronnie Goodson, another loyal customer, said, "I've never bought a vehicle from a finer dealership than I have here."
"They have always taken care of my needs," said Carol Dymond. "They have always been there. This is very sad."
Evelyn Alberts said she purchased a new Mercury there about a month ago and it is under warranty. Now she needs to find a new place to take her car for service.
The folks at Saturday's gathering also applauded Calhoun and his staff for their years of service.
"I appreciate every one of you," said Calhoun. "I am a man of few words, but I appreciate you."
When asked by The McDowell News about rumors regarding the closing, Calhoun said, "That's all stories."
"The story I told you is the only story," he said to a McDowell News reporter.
Calhoun said his business was profitable but could not get a mortgage from a bank.