Advantage GPS Mourns the Loss of Friend, Business Partner Joe Clayton
It is with great sadness and deep sense of loss that I pass along the news of the sudden and tragic death last month of an automotive industry retail icon, Joe Clayton.
Mr. Clayton, 84, was a successful entrepreneur and business legend in Tennessee and beyond. He died following a tragic helicopter crash on Aug. 3, 2020. He got his start in business in the automotive retail industry and owned both new car franchises as well as a buy here-pay here operations, Clayton Used Cars in Knoxville, Tenn.
A longtime Advantage GPS client, Mr. Clayton was the president of Dealers Council Lincoln-Mercury and Dealers Council Volvo. He also served as president and chairman of the Tennessee Automotive Association and on boards for Clayton Homes, Clayton Bank, First Horizon Bank and the YMCA. His sudden loss will impact many throughout our industry.
Clayton Homes, is a nationally recognized manufacturer of traditional site built homes, modular homes, manufactured homes, tiny homes, college dormitories, military barracks and apartments.
In recalling his father, Joe’s son Rick said, “We learned that, whatever we did, we should try to be the best at it,” he said. “I learned to always care for others, to always put your best foot forward at all times and to always be accessible to your customers and the community.”
Rick and his siblings, Mark Clayton and Debbie Clayton Justus, followed in their father’s footsteps and all work in the automotive business.
Here is a link to his full obituary. https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/knoxnews/obituary.aspx?n=b-joe-clayton&pid=196611406
