Valley Buick GMC History
Our history is what makes us who we are today, and we are glad you are interested in our story.
My father (Ron Claudon Sr.) started working at the AUBURN Buick Center in 1949 while still attending AUBURN High School. He worked his way up to shop foreman. It was there that he met Frank Lee, the sales manager, and Floyd Miller, the bookkeeper. In 1960 they all went to work at Valley Garage in Kent. In 1961 they bought the dealership and that was their first year together selling Mercury cars and GMC trucks.
In 1964 they bought the Ellis Garage in AUBURN at our current location. We sold six of the first ten Winnebago Motorhomes ever built. We were the number one GMC truck dealer in the country in 1969 and 1970 selling regular cab trucks for $1,995. They were 3 speed manuals with no options, in fact the heater was an extra cost item.
I spent many years working in and out of the dealership. Cleaning floors, washing cars, working in construction, going to college and banking. Finally coming home to the AUBURN store in 1983 and I later became a partner and Dealer in 1993.
We lost Floyd in 2006 and Dad in 2009. Frank still takes my phone calls when I want to get his advice and take advantage of his years of experience. In 2009 Frank’s son in law, Tony Weeldreyer and I started selling RV’s again. Tony has years of experience working in the RV business getting his start at Valley I-5. We became a Jayco dealer and currently have Valley RV Supercenter in Kent, just a block away from where it all started in 1961.
I still live in AUBURN with my wife Lorianne (we have been married 40 years as of 2022). Currently two of our three children reside here too. As of January 2022, our son Bryant bought shares of the dealership and is our general manager. He began his career at the dealership washing the shop floors on weekends as a middle schooler. Jaclynn is an educator, teaching at Auburn Mountainview High School. Nicole spent time selling cars and working as a finance manager. However, she has moved to the east coast with her husband in the Navy and her growing family.
Needless to say, AUBURN has been home to my family for as long as I can remember. Maybe this is why a few years ago we came up with our current tag line “Where we treat you like a neighbor not a number”... or maybe because our employees take such good care of our customers. Then again it could be because they are sure I probably will run into them at the grocery store someday.
Thanks again. I'll see you in the Valley,
Ron Claudon
President
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