This dealership was actually built as a Ford Dealership in 1922 by two gentlemen that were not related to my family – Dr. Eichel Berger and Hardy Hearne. They operated it until about 1926. At that time my great grandfather, John Sentel, whom was a planner up in Dixie, had 5 children – three boys and two girls. His plan was to divide his plantation between the three boys. For the two girls, he wanted to put their husbands in a business to own and operate. He bought this dealership, which was then the Bossier Motor Company, in 1926. So the building that we are sitting in to this day was built in 1922, but my family acquired it in 1926. {…}
From 1926 to 1931 they stayed in business as Bossier Motor Company selling Fords. We are not exactly sure when the first one was sold, but we have records that in 1927 Ogilvie Hardware (one of the customers back then) bought new Chevrolets from the Bossier Motor Company. We know this because they stamped “Chevrolet” over the Ford Emblem on the sales invoice. Then the next year, they actually had “Chevrolet” printed on the invoices. We know that we were selling both new Chevrolets and Fords in 1927 and 1928 at Bossier Motor Company.
In the Depression, times got tough. My great grandfather had his son-in-law, Kenneth “Red” Marshall, (my great uncle) running the dealership at that time for him. My great grandfather called his other son-in-law, Pat Hawkins (my grandfather) to come help out his brother-in-law. Pat Hawkins made a deal and in six months, Pat Hawkins owned half of Bossier Motor Company. On May 7th of 1931, they changed the name from “Bossier Motor Company” to “Red River Motor Company”. They Dropped Ford and kept Chevrolet because Ford (at that time) was very difficult to deal with. Chevrolet also had more options with their vehicles and more choices that would appeal to their customers. GM also had more of a variety with their products than Ford did. It was also because GM was quickly becoming the leading vehicle manufacturer.
That Chapter of the family started and continued until Pat Hawkins had two daughters. Neither of the daughters, went into the business, but their husbands both did. My uncle, Dick Johnson, came out of the army air corps at Barksdale after WWII and came to work here in 1944. He became the dealer. My father, Jim Fritze, got out of the Navy after November 22, 1953 and came to work here at that time. He and Dick Johnson became partners along with Pat Hawkins who died in 1957. My father bought Dick Johnson out in 1960 so Jim Fritze became the dealer from then until now. I started working here in 1970 and in 1986 became a partner. I am a partner to this day. In addition to that, Patton Fritze and Alvin Olsan are going to be partners. I am the fourth generation and they will be the fifth. So it’s been a good business for our family for a long time and we hope to keep it going for a long time to come.
– From “The Beginning of Red River Motor Company” by George Fritze
ABOUT
Current CEO/President:George Fritze
Current Employees:104
Average Employee Tenure: 5 years
Culture: The work place culture is phenomena! It is a team driven environment with many growth opportunities. Use practices to recruit and promote ethnic/cultural diversity, the disabled community, we recruit veterans from our local community, benefits and bonus/incentive programs are provided to employees. Community service is encouraged and supported, Red River Chevy makes an effort to recognize employees and promote team building, and e also provide support programs for employees’ families.
