Sources |
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 27 Dec 2003.
Johnny Ralph Lane obituary
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 10 Sep 2006.
Giles family sparks long tradition of auto parts sales
(c)2006 NPT PHOTO BY DAVID POPIEL The Giles family that owns Giles Auto Parts gets together for a last time at the 205 East Broadway store: Darrell and Luzella Giles, and their son, Rusty. The new store opens on Monday one block west.
By: David Popiel
Source: The Newport Plain Talk
09-10-2006
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If you were out and about late on Wednesday and Thursday the full moon over our hometown was helping to illuminate, through patchy fog, some late-night workers in downtown Newport. There's been another big change taking place in town and you may have missed it if you have not driven along East Broadway from East Tenn. Tire to the building strip that houses such longtime businesses as James Furniture, Custom Care Cleaners, and Giles Auto Parts. As of Saturday, Sept. 9, Giles Auto began doing business at its new location next to East Tenn. Tire. The 205 East Broadway address has become so familiar to thousands of people needing parts and advice from the Giles family at that site at least since 1971. But the family's history in the auto parts business is at least half a century. I've been watching the recent plan unfold to move for several weeks now and saw the historic significance to share with my readers. I saw Joe Kyker Jr. at Wal-Mart last week and I'm sure that his father who ran the Buick dealership (now East Tenn. Tire) could not have foreseen the success of East Tenn. Tire and Recapping and then the move by Giles Auto Parts to the property. I'm sure there will be a few negatives with the move. For instance, Gary Kyker will have to walk a little further to get parts to service his customers' vehicles. And, Leon Bryant will be losing a good tenant. My thinking is that Ophas Bryant and Charlie Bryant originally owned the long commercial building, when the Giles family moved into it. Before that, Giles Auto was-now this is interesting-located in the building that later became the first home for the Plain Talk: the current Newport Printing & Office Supplies building. Darrell Giles and son, Rusty, have been solely operating their store since 1993, when Darrell bought out his brother, Landon Giles. You have to go back to World War II to learn about the start of the business. The Giles boys' Dad, Benton "Windy" Giles got together with his brothers, Wade, Holloway, and Dewey. They raised $1,500 to start the store in 1945 with Dewey more a worker than investor. You may know or have known Windy and Lillian Giles other children: Leona Fowler, Kathleen Murr, and Betty Evans-all deceased; and Peggy Blazer and Cocke County Detective Bryan Murr. I recall that Windy was a county squire in the 1970s. Some of you remember the way the town was then. When I was watching the boxes and bins being carried out last Wednesday, attorney Roger Smith walked into the 205 East Broadway store and started recalling the 1950s era town. He could still imagine smelling the odor of fried onions coming from Rooster O'Neil's grill. Others businessmen included Beech Gregg, Theo Parrott, and Jay Williford-Broadway Music. Windy was not always a businessman-he had been working with Cathead Shults. By 1965, Landon and Darrell acquired a third interest in Giles Auto Parts and became partners Mar. 1975-two years after I joined the Plain Talk. Their loyal customers and service prompted the business to grow and have to move. During three decades, Darrell said he bought out about 10 auto parts stores, which explains why he has such a depth of parts and knowledge. He still has parts that will fit Ford and Chevy cars that date to 1935. I saw a tool you will seldom see-pliers-like snow chain adjusters-and then there was the time he sold Model A Ford sparkplugs. "I've been renting for 35 years. I have nothing against Leon. It was just the right opportunity," Darrell said of the chance to buy the closed recapping building. You saw Brockwell Construction clean up the parking area and Cocke County Glass at work days ago. The real hard work of organizing the move fell to Rusty, who at 41 has a lot of energy and interest in the store's future. And there are children to carry on the tradition. Darrell "Rusty" Giles is married to the former Tina Wright, who came here with her family from South Carolina. They have two children: Cody and Kristin. I must say that some of the store's success has to be attributed to the fine secretarial work of the elder Darrell Giles' wife, Luzella. You may know her as a first cousin to my friend, Ronnie Lane. Luzella's Dad, Fred, was married to the former Zella Dover, and he was a brother to Ronnie's Dad, Creed Lane. Their kids also include Kenneth Lane, Elmer Rose, Shirley Byrd, and the late Johnny Lane. Of Darrell and Luzella's children, I've only known Rusty Giles, but he has two sisters, too. Debbie, married to Doyle Parks Sr., is a professional upholsterer and has two children: Darrell and Dustin. You may know Karen (Giles) Dearing from Newport Utilities. She is married to electrical inspector, Mike Dearing. They have a daughter, Chastity Lane, who is in banking at Pigeon Forge. When Darrell and I were chatting on Thursday, I found out he came close to dying some years ago-his wife said it was 1999 when his heart failed at work and he required surgery. At 66, he is active, and kept neat by Luzella who will help him celebrate his 67th this Tuesday, Sept. 12. Darrell and Rusty have satisfied their many customers because they are courteous, have the parts you need in stock at the right price. Together, their knowledge and library of parts books have been a huge asset to our community. In plain talk, big, strong families build good businesses but the real dynamo are loyal customers and friends gathered and kept through the decades of mutual respect.
- [S112] Census, 1940.
name: Darrell Giles
titles & terms:
event: Census
event year: 1940
event place: Civil District 9, Cocke, Tennessee, United States
gender: Male
age: 0
marital status: Single
race (original):
race (standardized): White
relationship to head of household (original):
relationship to head of household (standardized): Son
birthplace: Tennessee
estimated birth year: 1940
residence in 1935:
enumeration district number: 15-19
family number: 106
sheet number and letter: 7A
line number: 7
nara publication number: T627
nara roll number: 3881
digital folder number: 005461287
image number: 00586
Household Gender Age Birthplace
head Benton Giles M 38 Tennessee
wife Lillian Giles F 28 Tennessee
daughter Kathaleen Giles F 11 Tennessee
daughter Leona Giles F 9 Tennessee
daughter Betty Sue Giles F 6 Tennessee
son Landon Knox Giles M 3 Tennessee
son Darrell Giles M 0 Tennessee
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
name: Benton Giles
titles & terms:
event: Marriage
event date: 09 Apr 1927
event place: Cocke, Tennessee, United States
age:
estimated birth year:
father:
father's titles & terms:
mother:
mother's titles & terms:
spouse: Lillian Cureton
spouse's titles & terms:
spouse's age:
spouse's estimated birth year:
spouse's father:
spouse's father's titles & terms:
spouse's mother:
spouse's mother's titles & terms:
reference number: 169
film number: 1928647
digital folder number: 004485962
image number: 00468
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