| Graves Automotive Supply started as a Mack truck repair station in 1924 on B
Street in Ontario.
Seventy-four years later the company founded by Lem Graves has undergone a
few changes but still continues strong.
In 1935 Lem Graves converted his business to an auto parts store and it has
remained so to this day. The lion's share of the business is selling auto parts
to repair shops, fleets and government agencies. It also sells part to
individuals.
Today, Graves Automotive Supply has two Ontario locations and a store in
Claremont. It also owns Parkway Automotive Warehouse, a wholesale division, in
Ontario, and the business also ha three automobile machine shops.
Lem Graves died in 1980 and Bill Dingle -- who, along with his wife,
Elizabeth Graves Dingle was in Chaffey High School's class of 1946 -- took over
as owner and chairman of the board. About four years ago Chuck Stokke became
president and General Manager. Chuck is a 1960 Chaffey High School graduate.
Both Bill and Chuck were initially hired as deliverymen. Their rise to the top
corresponds with a company philosophy.
"We always advanced people from within the organization," Dingle
said.
Competition in the form of Napa, Big A Auto Parts and other similar companies
has been stiff. Other independent auto parts stores have either closed or have
been absorbed into other companies. But Graves has continued to survive. Stokke
feels it's partly because of the company's emphasis on stocking its warehouses
with name-brand auto parts.
There are other reasons for the company's survival and success.
"We're very customer-oriented," Stokke said. "We respect our
customers, employees and suppliers. It's a philosophy that has allowed us to be
successful."
In addition, the company is stable in terms of its staff, Stokke said. Most
employees have been with the company for 10, 20, 30 and even 50 years as in the
case of field salesman, Glenn Reeder from the Chaffey High School class of 1945. |
