WAUPUN — Waupun auto retailer and car mechanic shop Homan Auto observed their 50th anniversary last week with an employee appreciation dinner and
The dinner was held at The Rock Golf Club on Thursday evening, with over 150 attendees of staff and spouses.
Mark Homan gave a speech outlining the history of Homan Auto, with displays of newspaper clippings, awards, and various items of interest related to the business’s history. He thanked his employees for making Homan Auto a successful business throughout these years.
“We grew from four employees in ‘74 to a little over 100 full-time employees today serving Waupun and Ripon and the neighboring areas,” Homan said. “I’m proud of the fact that we’re still here after 50 years. Not too many car dealerships or businesses in general can say that and I got to credit the team.”
Former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver also attended the dinner, giving a speech and Q&A about his life, his career with the Packers and Dancing With The Stars, and his testimony with Christ. He also spoke with and signed autographs for many of the attendees. He has a close relationship with the Homan family, considering Mark and himself “brothers from other mothers.”
Pictures from the dinner can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/homanauto/posts/pfbid02mAfzwJABcv4pAU2Q1Z17zQtGwtCpjuJM6epk3FnLpriSk6Pkm28g4vG6TpxPB7yLl
The 4th Annual Homan Auto Car Show was also held Saturday at the Gateway Drive location, combined with the 50th Anniversary Celebration. While the outdoor portion was rained out throughout the event, a brat fry, fundraisers, and live music were available in the main garage. Packers players AJ Dillon and Devonte Wyatt were also there for pictures.
Homan Auto was founded as a used car dealership in 1974 by Ed Homan, father of the current owner Mark Homan.
“In 50 years a lot has happened,” Mark Homan said. “My dad started the business as a used car dealer with himself doing basically all the sales and the buying of cars so forth, one mechanic, and my mom doing the book work and answering phones.”
“I had two older brothers that joined the business. One took over the accounting for my mom, the other brother did light mechanical work—oil changes, brake jobs—scheduled service work for the other technicians as we grew,” he said. “When I got out of college I ended up leading the sales department, my brother Jeff, the service department, my brother Steve was the head bookkeeper-accountant.”
Over the years, Homan Auto purchased Pontiac, Chevy Buick, Ford in Ripon, opened Chrysler in Ripon, and purchased Chevy Buick GMC.
“We’ve been fortunate to grow by looking for opportunities and other times opportunities have come to us, which I’m very proud of the fact that the manufacturers called us and wanted us to sell their cars, knowing that we took care of our customers. We knew how to sell cars and did things the right way.”
“We’re blessed with many great loyal customers that know we try to treat them right and hopefully, we can continue for 50 more years,” Homan said. “We’ve been fortunate, I mean I think a lot of people know how much we try to support the community—it goes hand in hand. We can support the community because the community supports us.”
Last March Homan Auto contributed to the Waupun Food Pantry to help cover expenses for moving into their new location at the new Community Center later this year. They also contributed a significant amount to the Waupun Hockey Association’s fundraiser to replace the flooring system at the Ice Arena last year.
