photo by: Contributed Photo

Dale Willey

Dale Willey loved cars. He would work 12- to 14-hour days — six days a week — at his dealership: Dale Willey Automotive. And even after he retired, he’d still pop in four to five times a week to check in.

His daughter, Carol Ryan, called her father a “very hard worker” with a work ethic that was “second to none.” But despite his dedication to his business, Willey also found the time to serve and volunteer in numerous other sectors of the Lawrence community.

When asked how else Willey spent his time, Ryan said, “You better sharpen your pencil.”

On Aug. 14, Willey died from complications due to a heart attack and stroke. He was 79 years old.

Willey was chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) in 2007 and chairman of the Kansas Auto Dealers Association in 1991. He helped start the Auto Technician program at Peaslee Tech and was very involved with the Delta Chi fraternity at the University of Kansas, of which he was a member when he was a student there in the early ’60s.

Willey was involved with the nonprofit Family Promise and in the ’80s, he served on the board of O’Connell Youth Ranch. He was a supporter of the Lawrence Arts Center, the Lawrence Public Library, Bert Nash Community Health Center and LMH Health.

photo by: Journal-World file photo

Dale Willey, right, is pictured in 2015 presenting a check for Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center to then-CEO David Johnson.

Willey’s wife, Jan Willey, said Willey had friends across the community and the world. When he served as chairman of NADA, he “traveled the whole world to meet with dealers everywhere,” she said.

She called him a very kind man who loved his children, grandchildren and great-grandson.

Willey was inducted into the Lawrence Business Hall of Fame in 2014, and served as Board Chair of the Lawrence Chamber in 1997. He retired from the car business in 2014, but his former dealership, located at 2840 Iowa St., still holds his name.

photo by: Nick Krug/Journal-World file photo

Dale Willey, center, pictured in 2014 with two other inductees of the Lawrence Business Hall of Fame: Jim Schwartzburg, left, and Bill Penny, right.

Greg Maurer, current owner of Dale Willey Automotive, had worked for Willey since 1993. He said Willey’s business philosophy was built on sincere relationships with his customers and employees. He also called Willey “very hands on.”

“He knew what was going on in the dealership,” he said. Maurer said back in Willey’s car selling days, Willey knew the specifics about every car — wheelbase length and all. He also knew about the evolution of car technology throughout history.

“He really knew a lot about the product that he always sold,” Maurer said.

Maurer and the employees at Dale Willey Automotive expected Willey to check in at the dealership multiple times a week throughout his retirement, so now, he’ll be missed.

“It’s just – you’ve lost an old friend that you expected to see every day and now we won’t be,” he said.

photo by: Richard Gwin/Journal-World file photo

Dale Willey pictured in 2005 after he learned he would serve as vice chairman, and then chairman, of the National Automobile Dealers Association.

Suzanne Willey, Dale’s other daughter, described her father as strong in his faith, stylish, a leader and a person with integrity and character. In addition to Suzanne and Ryan, Willey also had three step-daughters.

Suzanne said her father’s tenacity and positivity are attributes that “have been responsible in a lot of ways for the success I’ve had personally and professionally and I learned them from my dad.”

In his retirement, Ryan said Willey enjoyed spending time with family, golfing, fishing, volunteering and reading.

Suzanne said her favorite memories with her father are when they would play golf together.

“I will always hear him say in my head, ‘Suzie, keep your head down,'” she said.

photo by: Contributed Photo

Dale Willey pictured golfing with his daughters Suzanne Willey, left, and Carol Ryan, right.

Ryan said business wasn’t always smooth at the car dealership, but that Willey was always grateful for his customers.

“He was always very appreciative of the business that the town gave him,” she said.

Like Maurer, Ryan said her father loved building relationships with people, and that he also loved the Lawrence community.

From the time Willey moved to Lawrence in 1970 to open the dealership, he fostered a relationship not only with customers, but with the city, by giving his time and talents to various organizations in the local community.