Tex Earnhardt

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Born|

Tex Hal Earnhardt

(1930-12-09)December 9, 1930

Southern Texas, USA

Died| April 19, 2020(2020-04-19) (aged 89)
Cause of death| Natural
Nationality| American
Citizenship| United States of America
Occupation| Entrepreneur
Known for| Founder and CEO of Earnhardt Auto Centers
Children| 3

Tex Hal Earnhardt (December 9, 1930 - April 19, 2020) was an American entrepreneur born in Southern Texas.[1][2] He was the founder and CEO of Earnhardt Auto Centers, an automotive dealership company. [3][4]

## Contents

* 1 Early life and education
* 2 Personal life
* 3 Career
* 3.1 Earnhardt auto centers
* 3.2 Philanthropy
* 4 Death
* 5 In the media
* 6 References
* 7 External links

## Early life and education[edit]

Earnhardt grew up around the Rio Grande Valley, Texas. He moved with his family to Chandler, Phoenix in the late 1940s. [5][6] Earnhardt dropped out of school in the 10th grade. [7]

## Personal life[edit]

Earnhardt has a daughter, Debra Earnhardt, and two sons, Hal and Jim Babe Earnhardt.[8][9]

## Career[edit]

After dropping out of school, Earnhardt learned team roping and horseback riding and became a rodeo cowboy. [1][2] After that, started working at his father’s gas station and sold auto parts.[10]

### Earnhardt auto centers[edit]

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.[6] 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. [9][4]

### Philanthropy[edit]

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. [11][12][2]

## Death[edit]

Earnhardt passed away on April 19, 2020, at the age of 89 due to natural causes.[13][8][14]

## In the media[edit]

## References[edit]

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "80 years old, and that ain't no bull". archive.azcentral.com. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "He started out selling 1 car at a time, now his dealerships do 32,000 a year". WardsAuto. 2001-10-01. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
3. ↑ Writer, Dawson Fearnow, Tribune Contributing. "Tex Earnhardt's folksy charm has sold cars for 65 years". East Valley Tribune. Retrieved 2020-09-10.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Sostrom, Carolyn (2018-02-23). "Family still at the center of Earnhardt family business". Cowboy Lifestyle Network. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
5. ↑ Martinez, Jennifer (2020-04-19). "Iconic Arizona auto dealer Tex Earnhardt dies at 89". FOX 10 Phoenix. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Blufish (2020-04-20). "Tex Earnhardt dies at 89". AZ Big Media. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
7. ↑ Anglen, Robert. "Tex Earnhardt, colorful founder of car dealership empire, dies at 89". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Tex Earnhardt: From rodeo cowboy to Arizona icon". KNXV. 2020-02-10. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "3 generations, 1 plan". Automotive News. 2014-01-20. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
10. ↑ "Tex Earnhardt of Earnhardt Auto Centers has died at 89". AZFamily. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
11. ↑ "Tex Earnhardt Continues Loving On Arizona After Death: ICYMI". Phoenix, AZ Patch. 2020-04-22. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
12. ↑ "City honors Earnhardt Family" (PDF). North Central News. June 2019.`{{cite news}}`: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
13. ↑ "Beloved Arizona Auto Dealer Tex Earnhardt Dies At 89". Phoenix, AZ Patch. 2020-04-20. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
14. ↑ "Tex Earnhardt, founder of Earnhardt Auto Centers, dies at 89". 12news.com. Retrieved 2020-09-10.

## External links[edit]

* Tex Earnhardt, colorful founder of car dealership empire, dies at 89
* Arizona icon Tex Earnhardt passes away at age 89
* Earnhardt History
* Tex Earnhardt dies at 89 | AZ Big Media
* Tex Earnhardt, founder of Earnhardt Auto Centers, dies at 89
* Iconic Arizona auto dealer Tex Earnhardt dies at 89
* History of Tex Earnhardt ... - Earnhardt Hyundai North Scottsdale

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