Tuesday, April 13, 1999
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
'HENDERSON, OF COURSE'
Ben Stepman, a city booster and a top salesman and auto dealer, died Monday at the age of 79.
By Hubble Smith
Review-Journal
Ben Stepman, the car dealer and civic booster who closed his TV commercials with the phrase "In Henderson, of course," died Monday at St. Rose Dominican Hospital after battling an infection from surgery three weeks ago, his family said. He was 79.
Stepman came to Las Vegas with his wife, Billie, in 1976 and opened a Dodge dealership at 460 N. Boulder Highway, later franchising with Yugo and then going with Hyundai about eight years ago.
"Ben was always straight up with all the customers," said John Easley, general manager of Ben Stepman Hyundai. "His advertisement was always about what he could do and he did it. A lot of people respected him for his honesty."
Stepman worked an average of 60 hours a week and involved himself personally in many of the deals with his customers, Easley said. He employed about 35 people at his Henderson dealership, which has exceeded $8 million in gross sales since 1994.
He spent 55 years in the auto business, starting in St. Louis. Stepman bought the bankrupt Henderson Dodge in 1976, put it into the black and sold it in the late 1970s only to buy it back in the early 1980s.
Stepman served nine years on the board of the Henderson Chamber of Commerce, including a term as president from 1982-84. During that term, the $9.2 million Boulder Highway redevelopment project was started, and the city management audit was put into effect. He also formed a committee to promote tourism in Henderson.
He was named 1995 Small Business Person of the Year by the Nevada district office of the Small Business Administration and outstanding Chamber of Commerce member in 1992.
Hyundai Motor America recognized Stepman as the No. 1 dealer for customer satisfaction in the Western region from 1994 until 1998, and he was consistently among the top 25 dealers nationally for Hyundai.
In addition to his dealership, Stepman was president of Gelt Finance Co. and Ben Stepman Creative Advertising, which specialized in TV commercials.
He also received several awards from the city of Henderson, Basic High School, Burkholder Middle School and the Clark County School District for his community involvement.
Stepman was on the board of Easter Seals, American Heart Association and Kidney Foundation, and used his dealership facility for charitable events benefiting the March of Dimes, Cancer Society and Muscular Dystrophy Society.
Details of Stepman's health problems were kept confidential. Son-in-law Bruce Hampton said the surgery at St. Dominican was successful, but Stepman developed an infection from it.
Hampton said the family was completely satisfied with the efforts of the intensive care staff at Rose Dominican, including all the nurses and doctors who went "above and beyond their duties."
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to Rose Dominican in Stepman's name. He served as treasurer of the St. Rose Dominican Hospital Foundation for two years.
Visitation is scheduled for 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Henderson chapel of Palm Mortuary, 800 S. Boulder Highway. Services are 11 a.m. Friday, also at Palm.
Stepman was born May 30, 1919, in Keokuk, Iowa. In addition to his wife, Stepman is survived by daughters Jill Hampton of Boulder City, Lynne Meier of Pineville, La., and Pam Goldberg of Annapolis, Md.; brother Al Stepman of Las Vegas; and seven grandchildren.
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
'HENDERSON, OF COURSE'
Ben Stepman, a city booster and a top salesman and auto dealer, died Monday at the age of 79.
By Hubble Smith
Review-Journal
Ben Stepman, the car dealer and civic booster who closed his TV commercials with the phrase "In Henderson, of course," died Monday at St. Rose Dominican Hospital after battling an infection from surgery three weeks ago, his family said. He was 79.
Stepman came to Las Vegas with his wife, Billie, in 1976 and opened a Dodge dealership at 460 N. Boulder Highway, later franchising with Yugo and then going with Hyundai about eight years ago.
"Ben was always straight up with all the customers," said John Easley, general manager of Ben Stepman Hyundai. "His advertisement was always about what he could do and he did it. A lot of people respected him for his honesty."
Stepman worked an average of 60 hours a week and involved himself personally in many of the deals with his customers, Easley said. He employed about 35 people at his Henderson dealership, which has exceeded $8 million in gross sales since 1994.
He spent 55 years in the auto business, starting in St. Louis. Stepman bought the bankrupt Henderson Dodge in 1976, put it into the black and sold it in the late 1970s only to buy it back in the early 1980s.
Stepman served nine years on the board of the Henderson Chamber of Commerce, including a term as president from 1982-84. During that term, the $9.2 million Boulder Highway redevelopment project was started, and the city management audit was put into effect. He also formed a committee to promote tourism in Henderson.
He was named 1995 Small Business Person of the Year by the Nevada district office of the Small Business Administration and outstanding Chamber of Commerce member in 1992.
Hyundai Motor America recognized Stepman as the No. 1 dealer for customer satisfaction in the Western region from 1994 until 1998, and he was consistently among the top 25 dealers nationally for Hyundai.
In addition to his dealership, Stepman was president of Gelt Finance Co. and Ben Stepman Creative Advertising, which specialized in TV commercials.
He also received several awards from the city of Henderson, Basic High School, Burkholder Middle School and the Clark County School District for his community involvement.
Stepman was on the board of Easter Seals, American Heart Association and Kidney Foundation, and used his dealership facility for charitable events benefiting the March of Dimes, Cancer Society and Muscular Dystrophy Society.
Details of Stepman's health problems were kept confidential. Son-in-law Bruce Hampton said the surgery at St. Dominican was successful, but Stepman developed an infection from it.
Hampton said the family was completely satisfied with the efforts of the intensive care staff at Rose Dominican, including all the nurses and doctors who went "above and beyond their duties."
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to Rose Dominican in Stepman's name. He served as treasurer of the St. Rose Dominican Hospital Foundation for two years.
Visitation is scheduled for 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Henderson chapel of Palm Mortuary, 800 S. Boulder Highway. Services are 11 a.m. Friday, also at Palm.
Stepman was born May 30, 1919, in Keokuk, Iowa. In addition to his wife, Stepman is survived by daughters Jill Hampton of Boulder City, Lynne Meier of Pineville, La., and Pam Goldberg of Annapolis, Md.; brother Al Stepman of Las Vegas; and seven grandchildren.
Tuesday, April 13, 1999
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
'HENDERSON, OF COURSE'
Ben Stepman, a city booster and a top salesman and auto dealer, died Monday at the age of 79.
By Hubble Smith
Review-Journal
Ben Stepman, the car dealer and civic booster who closed his TV commercials with the phrase "In Henderson, of course," died Monday at St. Rose Dominican Hospital after battling an infection from surgery three weeks ago, his family said. He was 79.
Stepman came to Las Vegas with his wife, Billie, in 1976 and opened a Dodge dealership at 460 N. Boulder Highway, later franchising with Yugo and then going with Hyundai about eight years ago.
"Ben was always straight up with all the customers," said John Easley, general manager of Ben Stepman Hyundai. "His advertisement was always about what he could do and he did it. A lot of people respected him for his honesty."
Stepman worked an average of 60 hours a week and involved himself personally in many of the deals with his customers, Easley said. He employed about 35 people at his Henderson dealership, which has exceeded $8 million in gross sales since 1994.
He spent 55 years in the auto business, starting in St. Louis. Stepman bought the bankrupt Henderson Dodge in 1976, put it into the black and sold it in the late 1970s only to buy it back in the early 1980s.
Stepman served nine years on the board of the Henderson Chamber of Commerce, including a term as president from 1982-84. During that term, the $9.2 million Boulder Highway redevelopment project was started, and the city management audit was put into effect. He also formed a committee to promote tourism in Henderson.
He was named 1995 Small Business Person of the Year by the Nevada district office of the Small Business Administration and outstanding Chamber of Commerce member in 1992.
Hyundai Motor America recognized Stepman as the No. 1 dealer for customer satisfaction in the Western region from 1994 until 1998, and he was consistently among the top 25 dealers nationally for Hyundai.
In addition to his dealership, Stepman was president of Gelt Finance Co. and Ben Stepman Creative Advertising, which specialized in TV commercials.
He also received several awards from the city of Henderson, Basic High School, Burkholder Middle School and the Clark County School District for his community involvement.
Stepman was on the board of Easter Seals, American Heart Association and Kidney Foundation, and used his dealership facility for charitable events benefiting the March of Dimes, Cancer Society and Muscular Dystrophy Society.
Details of Stepman's health problems were kept confidential. Son-in-law Bruce Hampton said the surgery at St. Dominican was successful, but Stepman developed an infection from it.
Hampton said the family was completely satisfied with the efforts of the intensive care staff at Rose Dominican, including all the nurses and doctors who went "above and beyond their duties."
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to Rose Dominican in Stepman's name. He served as treasurer of the St. Rose Dominican Hospital Foundation for two years.
Visitation is scheduled for 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Henderson chapel of Palm Mortuary, 800 S. Boulder Highway. Services are 11 a.m. Friday, also at Palm.
Stepman was born May 30, 1919, in Keokuk, Iowa. In addition to his wife, Stepman is survived by daughters Jill Hampton of Boulder City, Lynne Meier of Pineville, La., and Pam Goldberg of Annapolis, Md.; brother Al Stepman of Las Vegas; and seven grandchildren.
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
'HENDERSON, OF COURSE'
Ben Stepman, a city booster and a top salesman and auto dealer, died Monday at the age of 79.
By Hubble Smith
Review-Journal
Ben Stepman, the car dealer and civic booster who closed his TV commercials with the phrase "In Henderson, of course," died Monday at St. Rose Dominican Hospital after battling an infection from surgery three weeks ago, his family said. He was 79.
Stepman came to Las Vegas with his wife, Billie, in 1976 and opened a Dodge dealership at 460 N. Boulder Highway, later franchising with Yugo and then going with Hyundai about eight years ago.
"Ben was always straight up with all the customers," said John Easley, general manager of Ben Stepman Hyundai. "His advertisement was always about what he could do and he did it. A lot of people respected him for his honesty."
Stepman worked an average of 60 hours a week and involved himself personally in many of the deals with his customers, Easley said. He employed about 35 people at his Henderson dealership, which has exceeded $8 million in gross sales since 1994.
He spent 55 years in the auto business, starting in St. Louis. Stepman bought the bankrupt Henderson Dodge in 1976, put it into the black and sold it in the late 1970s only to buy it back in the early 1980s.
Stepman served nine years on the board of the Henderson Chamber of Commerce, including a term as president from 1982-84. During that term, the $9.2 million Boulder Highway redevelopment project was started, and the city management audit was put into effect. He also formed a committee to promote tourism in Henderson.
He was named 1995 Small Business Person of the Year by the Nevada district office of the Small Business Administration and outstanding Chamber of Commerce member in 1992.
Hyundai Motor America recognized Stepman as the No. 1 dealer for customer satisfaction in the Western region from 1994 until 1998, and he was consistently among the top 25 dealers nationally for Hyundai.
In addition to his dealership, Stepman was president of Gelt Finance Co. and Ben Stepman Creative Advertising, which specialized in TV commercials.
He also received several awards from the city of Henderson, Basic High School, Burkholder Middle School and the Clark County School District for his community involvement.
Stepman was on the board of Easter Seals, American Heart Association and Kidney Foundation, and used his dealership facility for charitable events benefiting the March of Dimes, Cancer Society and Muscular Dystrophy Society.
Details of Stepman's health problems were kept confidential. Son-in-law Bruce Hampton said the surgery at St. Dominican was successful, but Stepman developed an infection from it.
Hampton said the family was completely satisfied with the efforts of the intensive care staff at Rose Dominican, including all the nurses and doctors who went "above and beyond their duties."
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to Rose Dominican in Stepman's name. He served as treasurer of the St. Rose Dominican Hospital Foundation for two years.
Visitation is scheduled for 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Henderson chapel of Palm Mortuary, 800 S. Boulder Highway. Services are 11 a.m. Friday, also at Palm.
Stepman was born May 30, 1919, in Keokuk, Iowa. In addition to his wife, Stepman is survived by daughters Jill Hampton of Boulder City, Lynne Meier of Pineville, La., and Pam Goldberg of Annapolis, Md.; brother Al Stepman of Las Vegas; and seven grandchildren.
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