FORD HONORS GENEROUS RETAILERS

Ford (back center) with honorees (back, left to right) Kimmerle, Grappone, Cimono, and Pack, and (front, left to right) Owen, Haik, Citron, Long, and Beans.

February 12, 2006—Ford recognized nine dealers at a ceremony here before the convention under its Salute to Dealers program, started in 2001 to show the company's commitment to its dealers who help those in need. "Each of these dealers not only gives so much of their time and money to a wide variety of causes," said Edsel Ford II, who conducts the awards, "but they encourage others in their communities to do the same."

The 2006 honorees are Fred Beans, Fred Beans Family of Dealerships, Doylestown, Pa.; Jay Cimino, Phil Long Dealerships, Colorado Springs and Denver; Marcelle Fortier Citron, Hub City Ford, Lafayette, La.; Robert J. Grappone, Grappone Automotive Group, Concord, N.H.; Mac Haik, Mac Haik Ford/Lincoln Mercury, Houston; David Kimmerle, Sanderson Ford Inc., Glendale, Ariz.; David J. Long Jr., Long Motor Company, Lawrenceville, N.J.; Alton F. Owen Sr., Owen Ford Inc., Jarratt, Va.; and Sam H. Pack, Sam Pack's Five Star Ford, Carrollton, Tex.