1. From One Family to the Next
Gurley Leep Automotive, one of the largest family owned dealerships in the country, continues
its contributions towards the progress of Families On! Challenge (FOC), a for-profit company
especially interested in supporting the communities they visit.
FOC is the first and only national family race series, with an interest in bringing families togeth-
er and supporting organizations in need. Its adventure courses are thematically designed to bring
fun and spontaneity to all ages and sizes, willing to join family and friends in racing competi-
tions, food fights, paint-off’s, couch and bed surfing, among other exhilarating courses. For each
race that FOC hosts the company also highlights and contributes to 3-5 local charities.
Some of its other contributors include Mix96, Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau, Mor-
den Woodmen Fraternal Financial, Today’s WLLR Country (Fm 86.7), KWQC News 6, among
other organizations helping ensure FOC’s cause and purpose is seen throughout.
“Family values don’t end, family lives in the business—family business,” said Tony Gomez,
President of Gurley Leep Automotive. “Which is why FOC caught our attention. The cause and
the passion behind the business intrigued me, and I could see that it was real.”
Mike Leep Sr., owner of Gurley Leep Automotive, held a partnership with Van Gurley, both
owned a little Dodge store in Michiwaka, India, later to become one of the largest privately
owned dealer groups in the midwest. Van later retired, around the time Mike Leep Jr. started
washing cars while preparing to take over Mike Sr. after his retirement. From one generation to
the next. In 2007 Leep Sr. took over Lujack’s NorthPark Auto Plaza in Davenport, with a partic-
ular regard for their home based tie-in. Lujack’s cause, alongside providing optimal care to their
customers, has also always been involved in being able to give back to the community, including
the Bix and the QC Student Hunger Drive, as well as maintaining strong ties in all relations.
“Employees come in blown away about our level of give back; more than 1/2 million in bonus
trips, family outings, among other prizes,” said Gomez. “Everybody is part of the family.”
Family to Lujack’s knew of Leep Sr., since he had been in the business for 26 years, although
they had never before built a partnership until Uncle Pat Pritchard, Automotive Consultant,
brought them together. Their overall principal became embedded in giving back to organizations
that exhibit care principals, which is why when the time came to do so Families On! Challenge’s
cause particularly appealed to them.
“For me it was really neat to get involved with a company that had 60 years in the market,” said
Gomez. “I helped out in a retirement party, where I was amazed to meet people with 20, 30, 40,
50 years in the business—it was neat—one big family.”
Gurley Leep Automotive and Families On! Challenge support one another today in continuing to
instill core family values in all that they do, in emphasizing the importance of building and
strengthening relationships with others, as well as contributing to those who also strive to give
back to their communities.