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BARROW JOURNAL
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
50-YEAR CELEBRATION
Ford representatives recognized Akins Ford in Winder for 50 years in business. The presentation was made during a 50-year event at Akins Ford last month.
Photos by Alex Pace
Long-time community sponsor
Akins Ford celebrates 50 years in Winder
BREAK GROUND
Attendees look on as Brad Akins breaks ground on the 50 year remodel and expansion of Akins Ford.
CELEBRATE WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS
The Akins family and friends celebrated the 50th birthday of Akins Ford in
Winder on Feb. 23.
By Alex Pace
Journal Reporter
A local family is cele
brating 50 years of
business in Barrow Coun
ty. Akins Ford, located in
Winder, is celebrating its
50-year mark by reflecting
on the years and looking
forward to future expan
sion.
The owner, Brad Akins,
who took over the dealer
ship when he was 23-years-
old, said the family has
enjoyed looking back over
the years.
“It's an honor to be a
part of an organization that
has sustained the ups and
downs of the last 50 years,"
said Brad.
The Akins family pur
chased the dealership in
1966. Roger Akins had
begun working at Thrifty
Motors in downtown Wind
er in 1965 with the under
standing that he would one
day buy the company.
The dealership moved
in 1965 closer to where
it is located today at 220
West May Street. A gas sta
tion now sits on the comer
where the old dealership
was located.
Roger Akins purchased
the company on Feb. 23,
1966. His brother, Harold,
began working at the deal
ership and later purchased
it after Roger purchased a
Ford dealership in Gaines
ville.
Shortly after, Harold
Akins moved his family
from Buford to Winder.
Brad said he grew up in the
family business.
“I grew up here," said
Brad. “I started working
here in the late 70s. If I
wasn't in school or playing
sports, I pretty much spent
most of my time here work
ing on cars."
And after graduating
from high school in 1984,
Brad began working at the
dealership full time.
In March of 1989, Harold
was diagnosed with leuke
mia.
He needed a bone mar
row transplant and had no
family match. A matching
donor was later found, but
since Harold's case was
unrelated and high-risk,
few doctors would accept
his case.
Harold traveled to Fred
Hutchinson Cancer Center
in Seattle in August 1989
for the surgery, leaving
Brad in charge of the deal
ership. In early December,
Harold's body seemed to
accept the transplant and
the family thought he was
on the early path of recov
ery.
“Except, right before
Christmas that year, some
of his blood count numbers
began to have some varia
tions," said Brad. “And by
the time we got to Christ
mas, it was determined that
his body was rejecting the
transplant.”
Brad said Harold's body
was too weak for another
transplant surgery. Harold
Akins passed away on Feb.
23, 1990.
Harold had named Brad
a minority owner of the
company and after Harold's
passing, Brad became the
youngest car dealer in the
country.
Since taking over the
dealership, Brad says the
company has been fortu
nate to consistently be
named one of the top Ford
dealers. The company has
been recognized for top
retail sales in both Ford and
Chrysler automobiles and
in Ford Ram truck sales.
AKINS FAMILY
While in Seattle with his
father, Brad became friends
with a clinical coordina
tor, Julie, a native Alaskan,
who would later become
his wife.
The two have three
daughters, Ashley, Jessica
and Madison.
Brad’s brother, Brian,
also works at Akins Ford.
He and Brad have been
doing tow truck upfitting
on-site for the past 10 years.
Brad and Brian's mother,
Shirley, also works at Akins
Ford.
REMODEL
Akins Ford is celebrating
its 50 years with a remodel
to its site. The dealership
moved to its current loca
tion in 1988.
The dealership previ
ously expanded its detail
department and in 2000,
the dealership built a body
shop. The expansion will
add an additional 18,000
square feet to its site.
The new expansion will
include a 4,000 square foot
showroom addition for a
10-car display, new exte
riors, expansion to its cus
tomer lounge and a ware
house.
The remodel completion
is expected in July.
Akins Ford also plans
to add new jobs, includ
ing technicians, accessories
positions, sales representa
tives and accounting sup
port.
Community members
gathered on Feb. 23 to cele
brate the groundbreaking of
the remodel. Several local
government leaders spoke
at the event, along with rep
resentatives from Ford and
Chrysler.
Barrow County Chamber
president Tommy Jennings
thanked Akins Ford for the
continued commitment to
the county.
“A lot has changed in this
community in 50 years,"
said Jennings. “We’ve seen
things come and go, and the
landscape of Winder and
Barrow County is not the
same as it was 50 years
ago. But the one thing that
has remained a constant
here is Akins Ford.”
Jennings also thanked
Akins for supporting the
community.
“Anytime you see a ball
team, certainly you're
going to see an Akins Ford
sponsorship," said Jen
nings. “Anything that goes
on in the community, there
is Akins Ford's support
behind it."
Harold Akins was a youth
athletics supporter and
after his passing, the fami
ly wanted to do something
in his memory. The Akins
family was instrumental
in bringing the YMCA
to Winder, and donated a
portion of the dealership’s
property for the site.
Winder mayor David
Maynard spoke about
Akins Ford’s impact on
Barrow County, both eco
nomically and in communi
ty service to the YMCA and
other groups.
“We would be a poor
er town without the Akins
family having located this
business here,” said May
nard. “And for that Brad, I
am grateful."
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HOSPICE
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