A great ride
Matlock Tire Service & Auto Repair celebrates 70th anniversary
The Matlocks celebrated that milestone at their Matlock Tire Service & Auto Repair’s location just outside of Farragut, 10730 Kingston Pike — one of five in the Knox County area — Wednesday morning, Dec. 13, inviting friends, family and patrons.
“We are thrilled for the relationships, the friendships, the long-term trust that people have placed in us,” said Jimmy Matlock, president and second-generation owner. “We have, currently, my mother (Jane Matlock) and my three sisters, who from the foundation of this were with my father (Joe Matlock), who is now deceased.
“But the Town of Farragut, the community, the entire area of West Knoxville has been so good to our little business,” he added. “And we’ve grown because many of the employees who were here this morning, in most cases, are long term — in some cases as long as 45 years.
“We love giving back to Farragut because Farragut’s been giving to us, and it’s been a joy. So, this is a special day for us … it’s been a great ride.”
Employee Randy McConnell was presented with the Jane Matlock Spirit of Service Award. Named after Jimmy’s mother, who co-founded the company, the award “goes to the employee, company-wide, who demonstrates the highest level of service,” said Joe Matlock, the third-generation Matlock and vice president of operations who was named after his grandfather.
“We have five employees who have been with us over 40 years, so we’re blessed with a lot of long-term people who have gotten us to this point,” he added.
Those five are Tim Williams, general manager; Marvin Stanley, head of quality control; David Noe, who died in 2023 of cancer; Barry Cusic, who retired this year from the Athens store; and Eddie Palmer, technician.
Company, employee history
Laughing, the vice president recalled being with Matlock Tire Service & Auto Repair since he was in high school “after I wrecked dad’s vehicle.” After graduating from University of Tennessee in 2012, the junior Joe began working full time.
Jimmy Matlock has spent most of his life with the company.
“As my grandmother would tell it, (Jimmy’s) been working here since he was old enough to hold a broom,” Joe said.
After Jimmy graduated from Lenoir City High School in 1977, he went to college for a couple years at East Tennessee State University and then the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
However, before he could graduate from UT, his father passed away and Jimmy came back to run the business.
Matlock Tire/Auto Repair initially got its start in 1953 with the senior Joe Matlock running an Esso service station, where he sold $9 tires, in the Eaton Crossroads community in Lenoir City. Now, the Lenoir City location is right off I-75 in the old Jack Nelson Buick site along Hwy. 321.
The older Joe established the first location in Farragut, a bit west of the current location, in 1980. “Down the hill first, then across the street and then where we’re at today,” junior Joe said.
The Matlocks added locations in Athens, Maryville and its newest store in Hardin Valley, which opened in 2020. Companywide, Matlock Tire/Auto Repair currently has 99 employees.
