Earl Hayes had already worked for Chevrolet from 1925 in a variety of
managerial positions in Dallas, Detroit, and Oklahoma, when he returned
to Dallas in 1945 and partnered with Roy Hill to purchase the John E.
Morris Chevrolet Co. at Ninth & Lancaster (also listed as 132
Lancaster). In 1949 Hayes bought the dealership outright from Hill and
built one of the largest showrooms in Dallas at the 9th & Lancaster
location. He also operated a used car and truck dealership at Commerce
& Industrial.
The slogan "Come out our way, trade
your way" appeared in ads in 1949, and Hayes apparently stuck with the
saying for the duration of his dealership.
About 1974
Earl brought his son, Robert T. (Bob) Hayes on board, and in June 1975
the result of their partnership, Bob Hayes Chevrolet Co., began
operating at its new location at Marvin D. Love Freeway and Wheatland
Road. Sometime in the 1990's the dealership became Powell Chevy. In 2011
Robert T. Hayes was Chairman of the Board of Hayes Truck Inc. in
Dallas.
See also the
Phorum discussion at Dallas Historical Society about the Hayes dealership.
Also a 1986 article from
D Magazine on Dallas family dealerships.
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