[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 90 (Wednesday, June 22, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1158-E1159]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING DON MASSEY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. THADDEUS G. McCOTTER

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 22, 2011

  Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the extraordinary 
life of Don Massey and to mourn him upon his passing at the age of 83.
  Born in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee on April 28, 1928 to Samuel Henry and 
Ila Marie Massey, Don became enamored of the automobile business when, 
at the age of 14, he took a summer job as a porter at a Jacksonville, 
Florida Dodge dealership. Ten years later Don, now married to his 
beloved Joyce, had moved to Michigan with $300.00 and a love of cars. 
Employed at a used Desoto/Plymouth dealership in Wayne, this natural 
salesman moved on to Paul McGlone Chevrolet where he advanced to the 
position of General Manager within two years. Under his direction, 
McGlone became the number one Chevrolet dealership in the world from 
1958 until 1960.
  Deteriorating health and a stern warning from his doctor dictated Don 
make drastic changes to his heavy workload and, in 1960, he felt he had 
no choice but to retire. After several months, Mr. Massey felt well 
enough to begin a new venture and opened a very successful used car lot 
of his own in 1961. Five years later, Don again retired, selling the 
lot, and moved to Plymouth, Michigan. Boredom quickly set in and Don 
bought ``a little store that sold a couple hundred Oldsmobiles and 
fifty-sixty Cadillacs a year.'' He intended to work half days. A New 
Year's Day 1967 blizzard dropped several feet of snow and while digging 
out to inventory his stock, the indomitable Don sold seven cars. In a 
short time Don Massey Cadillac would become the top Cadillac dealer in 
the world, a title it would hold consistently.
  A legendary salesman, Don believed in acquainting himself with his 
customers. His friendly approach brought him many a friend and sold 
many a car. In 1981, Don Massey acquired the second of his many 
dealerships when he purchased Capitol Cadillac located in Lansing, 
Michigan. Over the next decade he expanded his successful Southern 
charm to Colorado, Tennessee, Florida, North Carolina, Kentucky, 
California and Texas. When General Motors launched its Saturn brand, 
Massey opened the first of three Saturn dealerships in the Detroit area 
in 1990. Although he sold every brand under the General Motors 
umbrella, Don Massey became known as ``The Cadillac King''.
  Don Massey believed in his employees and promoted from within. His 
distinctive Southern drawl was recognizable in radio commercials for 
his dealerships. While he was never one to micromanage his businesses, 
he always left an imprint of his unassuming, personable style, and was 
an active member of his community. He co-sponsored the Plymouth Ice 
Sculpture contest, held an open barbecue on the 4th of July and donated 
the lights to the Plymouth baseball park bearing his name. He wanted 
his wife Joyce to be remembered. Massey built a wing on the Colorado 
hospital she was treated in after a debilitating car accident and named 
it after her. Don partnered with the St. Joseph Mercy Health System to 
establish the Joyce M. Massey Traumatic Brain Injury Day Treatment 
Center. A beautiful garden at Madonna University, in my hometown of 
Livonia, also bears the late Joyce Massey's name.
  As Don was nearing 70, offers to buy the colossal Massey conglomerate 
began. In 1998, he sold his three Saturn dealerships to General Motors. 
The next year GM bought his Ann Arbor Cadillac showroom but an offer to 
purchase the rest of the Massey holdings was rejected. Don sold his 
portfolio of sixteen dealerships in 2002 but he remained the voice of 
the dealership which still bears his name. One enduring piece of advice 
he shared, ``Keep both feet firmly on the ground and don't overextend 
yourself--socially or financially.''
  Sadly, on June 10, 2011, Don passed from this earthly world to his 
eternal reward. Reuniting in eternity with his beloved wife Joyce, 
daughter Joellen and brothers Tom and Sam Henry, Don is survived by his 
children Donald Jr. and Brenda, brother Bobby and sister Ruth.
  Mr. Speaker, Don Massey will be long remembered as a dedicated 
husband, legendary businessman, philanthropist, community leader and 
above all as a friend. Don was a man who deeply treasured his family, 
friends, community and his country. Today, as we bid Don Massey 
farewell, I ask my colleagues to join me in mourning his passing and 
honoring his unwavering patriotism and legendary service to our 
community and our country.

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