O’Rielly Chevrolet

Frank O’Rielly wanted a business of his own and a product he believed in. In March 1924, he opened O’Rielly Chevrolet, Tucson’s first of the brand, on 55 N. Sixth Ave. in a town with growth on the horizon. He opted for Chevrolet because he couldn’t get a Studebaker franchise. The decision was fateful as O’Rielly just celebrated a century mark. His son Buck, who as a boy worked in the parts department, would take the reins and not only build it into a lasting enterprise over the next 50 years, but also help shape the landscape of Southern Arizona. Buck helped found the Davis-Monthan 50, is one of the original Tucson Conquistadores, was influential in getting Central Arizona Project water here, bolstered Junior Achievement and St. Augustine Catholic High School. Today O’Rielly, managed by Buck’s son-in-law Rob Draper, is the largest Chevrolet dealership in the region.

PHOTOS COURTESY O’RIELLY CHEVROLET