Tex Earnhardt#Earnhardt Auto Centers
{{Short description|American entrepreneur (1930–2020)}}
Tex Hal Earnhardt (December 9, 1930 – April 19, 2020) was an American entrepreneur born in Southern Texas.{{Cite web|title=80 years old, and that ain't no bull|url=http://archive.azcentral.com/business/articles/20101207biz-earnhardt1208.html|access-date=2020-09-10|website=archive.azcentral.com}}{{Cite web|date=2001-10-01|title=He started out selling 1 car at a time, now his dealerships do 32,000 a year|url=https://www.wardsauto.com/news-analysis/he-started-out-selling-1-car-time-now-his-dealerships-do-32000-year|access-date=2020-09-10|website=WardsAuto|language=en}} He was the founder and CEO of Earnhardt Auto Centers, an automotive dealership company based in Chandler, Arizona. {{Cite web|last=Writer|first=Dawson Fearnow, Tribune Contributing|title=Tex Earnhardt's folksy charm has sold cars for 65 years|url=https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/arizona/tex-earnhardt-s-folksy-charm-has-sold-cars-for-65-years/article_dedb50f4-84f2-11e6-b435-9b7fc4fe0394.html|access-date=2020-09-10|website=East Valley Tribune|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Sostrom|first=Carolyn|date=2018-02-23|title=Family still at the center of Earnhardt family business|url=https://cowboylifestylenetwork.com/family-at-center-of-earnhardt/|access-date=2020-09-10|website=Cowboy Lifestyle Network|language=en-US}}
Early life and education
Earnhardt grew up around the Rio Grande Valley, Texas. He moved with his family to Chandler in the late 1940s.{{Cite web|last=Martinez|first=Jennifer|date=2020-04-19|title=Iconic Arizona auto dealer Tex Earnhardt dies at 89|url=https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/iconic-arizona-auto-dealer-tex-earnhardt-dies-at-89|access-date=2020-09-10|website=FOX 10 Phoenix|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Blufish|date=2020-04-20|title=Tex Earnhardt dies at 89|url=https://azbigmedia.com/business/tex-earnhardt-dies-at-89/|access-date=2020-09-10|website=AZ Big Media|language=en-US}} Earnhardt dropped out of school in the 10th grade. {{Cite web|last=Anglen|first=Robert|title=Tex Earnhardt, colorful founder of car dealership empire, dies at 89|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/2020/04/19/tex-earnhardt-obituary-founder-car-dealership-empire-dies-89/5162106002/|access-date=2020-09-10|website=The Arizona Republic|language=en-US}}
Personal life
Earnhardt has a daughter, Debra Earnhardt, and two sons, Hal and Jim Babe Earnhardt.{{Cite web|date=2020-02-10|title=Tex Earnhardt: From rodeo cowboy to Arizona icon|url=https://www.abc15.com/news/state/tex-earnhardt-from-rodeo-cowboy-to-arizona-icon|access-date=2020-09-10|website=KNXV|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2014-01-20|title=3 generations, 1 plan|url=https://www.autonews.com/article/20140120/RETAIL06/301209994/3-generations-1-plan|access-date=2020-09-10|website=Automotive News|language=en}}
Career
After dropping out of school, Earnhardt learned team roping and horseback riding and became a rodeo cowboy. After that, started working at his father’s gas station and sold auto parts.{{Cite web|title=Tex Earnhardt of Earnhardt Auto Centers has died at 89|url=https://www.azfamily.com/news/tex-earnhardt-of-earnhardt-auto-centers-has-died-at-89/article_533116e4-8262-11ea-96b5-534206a0792d.html|access-date=2020-09-10|website=AZFamily|language=en}}
= Earnhardt Auto Centers =
Earnhardt set up Earnhardt Auto Centers in 1951 and the company has grown from 1 to 24 dealerships, representing 18 brands, employing more than 2,200 people. According to Automotive News Data Center’s top 125 dealership group data, in 2012, the company sold 19,049 new and 9,793 used vehicles in 2012. The company is headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, and has dealerships primarily throughout the Phoenix-area, as well as two in Las Vegas.
= Philanthropy =
Earnhardt was a financial supporter of several children’s causes, including the East Valley Boys and Girls Club, Child Crisis Center, Make a Wish Foundation, and Head Start. In June 2019, he donated $240,000 to Phoenix Children’s Hospital. {{Cite web|date=2020-04-22|title=Tex Earnhardt Continues Loving On Arizona After Death: ICYMI|url=https://patch.com/arizona/phoenix/family-honors-tex-earnhardt-s-wishes-giving-back-big-way|access-date=2020-09-10|website=Phoenix, AZ Patch|language=en}}{{Cite news|date=June 2019|title=City honors Earnhardt Family|work=North Central News|url=https://northcentralnews.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/jun2019.pdf}}
Death
Earnhardt died on April 19, 2020, at the age of 89 due to natural causes.{{Cite web|date=2020-04-20|title=Beloved Arizona Auto Dealer Tex Earnhardt Dies At 89|url=https://patch.com/arizona/phoenix/beloved-arizona-auto-dealer-tex-earnhardt-dies-89|access-date=2020-09-10|website=Phoenix, AZ Patch|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Tex Earnhardt, founder of Earnhardt Auto Centers, dies at 89|url=https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/tex-earnhardt-founder-of-earnhardt-auto-centers-dies-at-89/75-4e169ec8-63f1-40d0-b4b6-69d848f8832b|access-date=2020-09-10|website=12news.com|language=en-US}}