Cecil Lee VanTuyl was born to Jesse and Dollie VanTuyl in Lincoln Township, Linn County, Kansas. He grew up in that area and attended LaCygne, Kansas schools. He served in the US Navy in WWII.
After returning from the Navy, Cecil started out as a welder at one of the auto manufacturing plants in KC. He then bought a used car lot in KC and around 1955 was awarded a Chevrolet dealership located at Johnson Drive and Lamar, which he named "Van Chevrolet." From that point, he either established or acquired more and more new car dealerships and eventually became the largest independent auto dealership owner in the USA, having grown to something like 125 dealerships nationwide.
Cecil branched out into other business dealings as well, such as commercial real estate and development.
After returning from the Navy, Cecil started out as a welder at one of the auto manufacturing plants in KC. He then bought a used car lot in KC and around 1955 was awarded a Chevrolet dealership located at Johnson Drive and Lamar, which he named "Van Chevrolet." From that point, he either established or acquired more and more new car dealerships and eventually became the largest independent auto dealership owner in the USA, having grown to something like 125 dealerships nationwide.
Cecil branched out into other business dealings as well, such as commercial real estate and development.
Cecil Lee VanTuyl was born to Jesse and Dollie VanTuyl in Lincoln Township, Linn County, Kansas. He grew up in that area and attended LaCygne, Kansas schools. He served in the US Navy in WWII.
After returning from the Navy, Cecil started out as a welder at one of the auto manufacturing plants in KC. He then bought a used car lot in KC and around 1955 was awarded a Chevrolet dealership located at Johnson Drive and Lamar, which he named "Van Chevrolet." From that point, he either established or acquired more and more new car dealerships and eventually became the largest independent auto dealership owner in the USA, having grown to something like 125 dealerships nationwide.
Cecil branched out into other business dealings as well, such as commercial real estate and development.
After returning from the Navy, Cecil started out as a welder at one of the auto manufacturing plants in KC. He then bought a used car lot in KC and around 1955 was awarded a Chevrolet dealership located at Johnson Drive and Lamar, which he named "Van Chevrolet." From that point, he either established or acquired more and more new car dealerships and eventually became the largest independent auto dealership owner in the USA, having grown to something like 125 dealerships nationwide.
Cecil branched out into other business dealings as well, such as commercial real estate and development.
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