“I left St. Louis in 1970, moved to Peoria, and opened a clothing store. By 1990, I was supervising 15 different stores across the Midwest. I had to go to Kansas City for a quick work trip, so I hopped on my Harley, rode into St. Louis, and my dad took me to the airport. Later that night, after I’d flown home, l told my dad, ‘I’ll be right back. I’m going to the gas station to fill up my bike,’ and I never made it back because I got hit by a guy in a Cadillac. He took off and they never found him, but I was in intensive care for three months. I mostly hurt my left side. Over the years, I’ve had 50 surgeries including three ankle replacements.

I never went back to Peoria after that. I stayed with my dad and was on crutches for five years. In 1992, I bought a Mustang to resell, sat on the corner of Olive and Fee Fee with my crutches, and sold it for about $35,000. Then I started dreaming. I knew nothing about the car business, but my best friend loaned me 50 grand and we went to Pamona, California, to buy some cars. We rented this building in St. Charles and were partners for a few years until I bought him out. St. Charles has been good to me, and I’ve grown the business ever since. It was a terrible thing that happened, but I’m blessed the accident put me in a different position and place in this world.

At 94, my dad’s a badass and driving a 1990 T-bird convertible. He comes in twice a week. He had a date a month ago with an 80-year-old and told me, ‘I’ll meet her at the restaurant so if I don’t like her she can drive her own car home.’ He’s witty like that. He’s been a pharmacist his whole life and is pretty religious, but it just wasn’t my repertoire. I used to go to synagogue with him, but haven’t been in a long time. When I moved to Peoria at age 20, I had nobody. If I told people I was Jewish, they thought I was a liar. They’d say, ‘You don’t look Jewish. You don’t act Jewish.’ I never understood that bullshit. I was a bachelor until I was 45. As a bachelor, you’re crazy and out partying. You’re not worried about going to synagogue. Do I believe in G-d? Yes. And I try to be a good person.”

📷| Colleen O’Connell Smyth