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Bill Jackson Chevrolet Buick GMC has been a staple in the Troy community since 1989 but Wednesday, Oct. 23, was it’s last day as a new owner will be taking over moving forward.

Bill Jackson and his family arrived in Troy in 1989, setting up shop at the former Cook-Hudson Chevrolet, Oldsmobile and Cadillac on Highway 231. At the time of their arrival, Bill Jackson told The Messenger, “We’re here to stay, we’ve bought a home and we want Troy to be our home.”

Eventually his son, Jim Jackson, took over the business and Jim Jackson said home is exactly what Troy became.

“My dad passed away in 2020 right here in Troy,” Jackson said. “We were accepted here from day one. We were accepted with open arms and I couldn’t count the number of vehicles we’ve sold since 1989.”

In 1997, Bill Jackson Chevrolet moved into its current location, a little further down Highway 231. An interesting fact is that Troy Bank & Trust purchased the first vehicle when the Jackson’s came to Troy in 1989, bought the first vehicle from their new location in 1997 and bought the final vehicle sold by Bill Jackson Chevrolet this week.

“It goes back to the customers and the support we’ve received from the community,” Jackson said. “To have sort of our milestone vehicle at each stop bought from the same customer – Troy Bank & Trust – is a pretty cool thing. There’s other people in this community that we’ve probably sold 100 vehicles to over these 35 years. That’s the kind of support we’ve received here.”

Ultimately, Jackson said it was just time for him and his family to move on.

“All businesses are changing and the way I would sum it up is that it’s becoming a young man’s business with all the technology changes,” Jackson said.

Jackson sold the dealership to Scott Lee out of Crestview, Fla., who owns David Scott Lee Buick GMC, a dealership that’s been in business for nearly 80 years. Lee is member of a family that’s been in the car business for four generations. David Scott Lee Buick GMC was started by his great grandfather in 1946.

“We wanted to grow and heard about an opportunity here,” Lee said of purchasing Bill Jackson Chevrolet. “Bill and Jim had been here for a long time and had a great name and we had an opportunity to partner with GMC and Chevrolet again. It’s two hours door-to-door and there isn’t another GMC store between us.

“So, it was kind of a natural direct line to be able to keep it under the same management. As we continued to talk and learn more about the town, we thought there were a lot of similarities with it being family owned and operated. We could come in and take care of the customers and community like we do in Crestview.”

The new name that the dealership will carry is David Scott Lee Chevrolet GMC. The location remains 152 U.S. Highway 231 in Troy. Bill Jackson Ford will remain open for the time being.