Auto group says goodbye

One East Palatka man is at a point in life where he plans to relax and enjoy all that Putnam County has to offer.

That man is Hal Magee, 65, who officially retired Friday from the Beck Automotive Group in Palatka after 36 years of service.

Magee got his start with Beck in 1979 as a 22-year-old working in sales in Marion, Illinois, after stopping by the dealership to buy a car.

“Mr. Beck offered me a job and I stayed for five years before leaving the company to move to Tampa to finish college at the University of South Florida,” he said. “I came to Palatka to rejoin the company after its relocation in late 1992.”

Magee admits he has always loved working for the Beck organization.

“They really care about their customers and always strive to do the right thing,” he said.

Magee retired from sales at Beck Ford Lincoln, but that’s not the only department in which he has worked in his 36 years with the company.

He has been a salesman, ran the finance department for seven years, worked as a sales manager at Beck Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep in Starke for seven years and worked at Beck Nissan in Palatka for two years.

“I have worked for the Beck stores in many different capacities over the years,” he said. “I also worked at Beck Commercial sales before going to Beck Ford as the used car manager and most recently back as a salesperson at Ford.”

Wayne McClain, the vice president of the Beck Automotive Group, has known and worked with Magee for 13 years.

“It is really unheard of in the automotive dealership world for someone to be employed for 30-plus years in retail sales,” McClain said. “Hal has been a mainstay of the Beck organization and is a key reason for the success of the Beck franchise. We wish Hal the best in his retirement years.”

Magee considers the late Carl Beck, the former owner of Beck Automotive Group, a great man, friend and mentor.

“When I met him in 1979, I knew he was a great leader and wanted to learn from him,” he said. “(Beck Automotive President and CEO) Breck Sloan has been a very large part of my life and business development throughout my career as well as since I came to Palatka.”

Magee believes working for a small-town auto dealer has had its perks.

“We always tried hard to make sure the customer was happy and well-cared for,” he said. “It’s a more personal touch. We hope to build relationships that turn into sales over generations.”

Those perks also included special outings with Carl Beck to Jaguar games, NASCAR races and Florida Gator games.

“Those are very special memories,” Magee said. “I got to ride on the plane with Mr. Beck to the Jacksonville Jaguars away game in Indianapolis, Indiana, and a few years later with my wife to a Kansas City game. Very special times.”

Magee considers the Beck organization his family because his co-workers and customers care for each other and have each other’s backs.

“We have always looked out for each other,” he said. “They are wonderful people who seem to care about you, the employee, as well as their customers.”

Magee admits he’s not sure what plans he may have after retiring.

“All I have ever done is work, so I need to figure out what is on the other side,” he said. I feel really lucky to have met and worked for Mr. Beck and Breck Sloan. I am what I am today because of them. I would do it again in a heartbeat. This has been more than a job for me. It has been my life.”