Sixty-two years ago, husband and father Bob Tedford made a momentous decision. He had decided to take a chance and purchase a floundering auto dealership. He told wife Sandra they were selling the house and moving to Farmersville. What resulted was a lifelong involvement in a small but tight-knit community and a business that still bears the man’s name and bloodline.
Bob Tedford passed away in 1997, but the dealership is in good hands with his son Robert. As Bob would have wanted, the business is a family affair; in addition to Robbie, sister Beverly Toney has worked in the dealership as does son-in-law James Cannon. The Tedford family worked the store from its inception with both kids growing up in the business.
Bob Tedford, never one to let the grass grow under his feet, gave as much to the community as he got, devoting time and money to town causes. Bob was instrumental in helping to save the historic Onion Shed when the railroad wanted to tear the old building down. It was Bob who put together a committee to establish a public library when the city did not have the money to do so. There are numerous other examples of Bob’s philanthropy, too many in fact to list, but among those that stand out are his time spent as Mayor of Farmersville, a city councilman and one of the original board members of the Farmersville Economic Development Corporation.
That community spirit was passed down to Robert as the younger Tedford is an officer on the Centennial Committee, a valued charitable organization in the city. Robbie has used a practiced hand to help guide the city in other ways, as well, including serving 24 years on the Farmersville Economic Development Corporation.
The Tedford legacy is still felt in Farmersville to this day. Those who drive Farmersville daily – and even those just passing through – see Tedford Chevrolet sitting proudly along Audie Murphy Parkway. There is even a street named for Bob Tedford.
“It has been the result of vision and hard work by a lot of people to get here,” says Robbie. “We’ve been very blessed in this place.”
Bob Tedford Chevrolet sits at 1344 W. Audie Murphy Parkway and is a full-service dealership boasting new and pre-owned sales and parts and service. Tedford Chevrolet can be reached at www.tedfordchevrolet.com or at 972-782-4075.
