FORT WORTH, Texas — A public visitation for Allen E. Samuels was scheduled for Friday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home & Memorial Park in Colleyville.
His funeral services will be Saturday but only family will be allowed in the chapel.
Samuels, the man best known as Your Friend in the Car Business, died April 24 from pancreatic cancer, in Fort Worth.
Samuels owned and operated 21 dealerships, with 17 of those right here in the state of Texas. One of his original dealerships was in Waco and in recent years he expanded locations in Oklahoma, Kansas, Mississippi and Tennessee.
He first got started in the car business in 1963, working his way up from the sales floor to the general sales manager at Bill McKay Chevrolet in Fort Worth. Samuels came to Waco in 1982 as the general sales manager of Steakley Chevrolet in Waco and fell in love with the community as both a place to live and work.
In late 1983, Samuels was introduced to the Chrysler Corporation which lead to him buying North Loop Dodge in North Richland Hills, turning a business that constantly lost money into one of most profitable Dodge dealerships in North Texas in less than a year.
His success was founded on his motto, "There’s no lying, cheating or stealing. If I ever catch you doing any of these, you are gone immediately, with no exceptions!”
People began to notice the commercials he produced that showed him walking through town past different landmarks. Samuels always ended each commercial with, "Waco has a lot to offer, and so do we at Allen Samuels. Come by; let’s be friends!”
Always looking to give back to the communities he called home, Samuel supported youth activities from soccer, basketball, baseball and softball to Adopt-A-School programs. His dealership donated over $28,000 in computers and televisions to local schools.
“I wanted to help the community as many ways as I could, which is why I concentrated on children, the Waco Chamber of Commerce, the arts and our local hospitals," Samuel once said.
Allen was honored by many organizations over the years including the McLennan County 4-H, Waco Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Award, Philanthropist of the Year and the Golden Apple Award from Waco ISD for Partners in Education, to name a few.
He is survived by his wife, Donna, 9 children, 22 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. Funeral services are pending.
The family has requested that people wishing to make memorials, to donate to the Shriners Hospitals for Children or the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.
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