Our story began long before Gladstone Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram came under the Doherty family's ownership.
Tom Doherty started his automotive career as a mechanic at Dewey Chevrolet in Omaha, Nebraska. From the beginning, he learned the business from the ground up, developing an appreciation for hard work and the people who make a business successful.
He eventually purchased a Mobil gas station, which he successfully operated through the difficult energy crisis of the 1970s. After selling the station, Tom returned to the dealership business, joining Ron Huber at Huber Chevrolet, formerly Dewey Chevrolet. His talent and work ethic quickly earned recognition within the Van Tuyl automotive organization.
In 1981, Tom moved his family to Kansas City when he became a partner with Cecil Van Tuyl in a Datsun dealership.
Six years later, in 1987, Tom purchased what is now Gladstone Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram, establishing a family business that would become a fixture in the Northland automotive community.
Over the years, Tom built a successful dealership, but perhaps his most lasting accomplishment was the reputation he earned among the people who worked for him.
Even today, one of the things we hear most often from former employees and people who knew him is, “Tom was always a great man to work for.”
For Tom, that was never a small thing. He believed that taking care of people was fundamental to building a successful business. It's a philosophy that continues to guide us today.
