Bill Hellman Jr., whose family has been involved in the new-car business in Delta for 60 years, has been named Colorado Time Dealer of the Year for 2017.
Nominated by Tim Jackson, president of the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (CADA), Hellman will be one of 49 dealers from around the country honored at the National Automobile Dealers Association Convention & Expo in New Orleans on Jan. 27. One of the 49 will be named national Time Dealer of the Year.
“Bill will be a good and worthy representative for CADA among the Time dealer nominations,” said Jackson. The Time Dealer of the Year Award is sponsored by Ally.
Hellman’s father, Bill Sr., came from Dodge City, Kan., to Delta in 1955 to purchase the Ford dealership. The Mercury line was added and in 1970 a new Ford/Mercury facility was opened a mile east of town. The Chrysler, Plymouth and Dodge lines were added in 1981 and in 1988 the Toyota franchise was acquired.
Bill Jr., after graduating from Western State College in Gunnison, worked his way up through the departments of the dealerships, and with brother Matt in 1988 assumed head of operations on Bill Sr.’s semi-retirement.
Bill Hellman Jr. is a former president of the Rotary Club of Delta, a past director of the local Chamber of Commerece and a 41-year member of the Delta Elks Lodge. He currently serves boards of Uncompahgre Development Co. and Delta County Memorial Hospital. He served as chairman of the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association in 2014.
He and wife, Jeanie, are parents of Holly, who handles his store’s website and advertising, and Patrick, who works for his uncle, Mark, at the Chevy dealership.
Hellman succeeds Bob Penkhus of Colorado Springs as Colorado Time Dealer of the Year. First winner of the award was Russ Lyon of Boulder in 1970.
Colorado recipients of the Time award:
- 2017 – Bill Hellman
- 2016- Bob Penkhus
- 2015- Scott Ehrlich
- 2014- Bob Ghent
- 2013- Jay Cimino
- 2012- Mike Shaw
- 2011- Doug Moreland
- 2010- Jack Terhar
- 2009- John Medved
- 2008- Don Hicks
- 2007- Lisa Schomp
- 2006- Barbara Vidmar
- 2005- Jeffrey Carlson
- 2004- Jim Morehart
- 2003- Lee Payne
- 2002- John Schenden
- 2001- Dean Dowson
- 2000- Kent Stevinson
- 1998- Fred Emich
- 1997- John Clatworthy
- 1996- Lloyd Chavez
- 1995- Jim Reilly
- 1994- Herrick Garnsey
- 1993- Roland Purifoy
- 1992- Jim Suss
- 1991- Doug McDonald
- 1990- Bob Markley
- 1989- Bob Fisher
- 1988- Harry Dowson
- 1987- Joe Luby
- 1986- R.W. Dellenbach
- 1985- Hugh Tighe
- 1984- Florian Barth
- 1983- R.S. Doenges
- 1982- Jack Maffeo
- 1981- Nate Burt
- 1980- Dwight Ghent
- 1979- Tony Fortino
- 1978- George McCaddon
- 1977- Gene Wilcoxsen
- 1976- Ralph Schomp
- 1975- Al O’Meara
- 1974- Charlie Williams
- 1973- Vern Hagestad
- 1972- Dick Deane
- 1971- Gene Markley
- 1970- Russ Lyon