THOMASVILLE — Rocky Spence began working unofficially at his father Earnest’s car dealership when he was nine years old, picking up cans on the grounds of what would become Spence Oldsmobile-Cadillac-Pontiac-Buick-GMC for his weekly wage. When he joined full-time in the 1970s, he forged a career seeing to it to that no customers were overlooked when they spent money there.

Today is Rocky’s 50th birthday, the same day his father opened the doors of Spence Oldsmobile in Thomasville.

Like Rocky, the dealership has grown over the last 50 years. Besides adding some trademark car names that made America an industrial giant, Spence’s rate of satisfying car buyers also multiplied by keeping one person in mind — the customer. To celebrate 50 years in Thomasville, Spence is offering a 30-day promotion where anyone who buys a car will receive $50 gas money.

“We just want thank our many friends and customers for the support over the years and continuing to give us a chance to serve them,” Rocky Spence said. “We’ve got a good group of customers.”

From sending out letters to customers reminding to get their oil changed, to general manager Lou Miller making sure every desire is met before a customer drives off in their new dream car, the old adage of “the customer comes first” is not just lip service there.

It’s a busy operation at Spence. Miller, a 40-year veteran of the dealership, knows this all too well. A seemingly very hands-n manager, Miller works the phones, service area and lot, seeing to it that every customer walks away satisfied.

“An unhappy customer is not a very good thing in this business,” Miller said.

Under his watch, cars and trends have come hither and gone yon, but an Oldsmobile still lights his fire. Still, he can’t believe how much the automobile has changed.

“Who would ever dream that you could push a button in your car and make a telephone call to anywhere in the world?” Miller said. “Sounds like Buck Rogers stuff to me.”

Miller says the job still presents its challenges. Every car needs maintenance and customers need to be educated on it, but once the deal is closed, naturally all the customer wants to do is drive off and enjoy their new purchase. Miller’s solution? Weekend clinics.

“It makes it a good investment rather than something that is going to rust away,” Miller said.

Dealer Al Park, who has been with Spence for 10 years, owes the success of Spence to the public.

“I think it’s a testimony to the support the community has given us,” Park said. We’ve tried to deliver a high of level of service to folks.”