Roy O'Brien Jr., died on 81st birthday, namesake of metro Detroit Ford dealership; "Stay on the right track to 9 Mile and Mack"
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Roy O'Brien Jr.: Family's dealership was popular in metro Detroit
BY JOE ROSSITER
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
http://www.freep.com/article/20100512/NEWS08/5120301/1010/News08/Roy-OBrien-Jr.-Familys-dealership-was-popular-in-metro-Detroit
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Roy O'Brien Jr.
For more than 60 years, three generations of the O'Brien family have
been selling Fords at the same location in St. Clair Shores.
Roy O'Brien Jr., who continued what his father started and then passed
the leadership to his children, died of a heart attack in his sleep on
his 81st birthday Monday at his home in Clinton Township.
Roy O'Brien Sr. started the auto dealership in 1946 at an abandoned fire
station at 9 Mile and Mack. The dealership's popular jingle debuted in
1955 and still is played in commercials today, urging consumers to "Stay
on the right track to 9 Mile and Mack."
Mr. O'Brien Jr. was 17 when he began working part-time at the dealership
as a porter, delivering automobile parts. He also held jobs as general
sales manager and new- and used-car salesman before becoming CEO in 1966
after his father died at age 52.
"He was a humble man who led by example and was regarded as a breath of
fresh air in the business," said his son Mark O'Brien, general manager
and CEO of Roy O'Brien Ford, who now runs the dealership with four of
his siblings. "You would never have known he was a car dealer because
his persona ran contrary to the stereotypical image of automobile
dealers. Customers knew him as reliable and trustworthy."
Born in Detroit, Mr. O'Brien graduated from the University of Detroit in
1951 with a degree in business management. He served in the Air Force
and was stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany, during the Korean War.
Mr. O'Brien retired from the dealership in 2000.
In addition to Beverly, his wife of 57 years, and son Mark, survivors
include sons John and Roy; daughters Eve Marie McCarty, Kathleen
O'Brien, Maureen Bratto and Amy Kravitz; one sister, and 16 grandchildren.
Visitation is to be 2-9 p.m. today with a scripture service at 7 p.m. at
S.K. Schultz Funeral Home, 43300 Garfield, Clinton Township.
A funeral mass is to be at noon Thursday at St. Thecla Catholic Church,
20740 S. Nunneley, Clinton Township. Visitation is to precede the mass
at 11:30 a.m.
His body was cremated.
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