Mr. Benefiel was the son of Charles Theodore & Florence Elizabeth "Lizzie" (Schwennesen) Benefiel.
Soon after graduating at Lambert High School in 1935, Ted leased a service station in Cherokee, OK. He enjoyed learning to drive and work on cars at an early age. In 1931 when he went to California with seven other members of the family, he drove a great deal of the way. He was only 14 but was an excellent driver.
On 13 June 1937, at the Baptist Church, Cherokee, he was wed to Pauline Thomas, the daughter J. F. & Mary Ellen Thomas, of Alfalfa Co., OK. Born to this union were a daughter and son.
Soon after opening the station, his ability was recognized, and he was asked to work for the Ford Garage at Cherokee. In 1938 he transferred to Enid where he was parts manager for that Ford Garage and the family lived there for 20 years. In 1959, he bought the Ford dealership in Okeene, and 9 years later they changed to the larger dealership in Purcell.
He was president of the OK Automobile Assoc., and in 1979 he was chosen by the Nat. Automobie Dealers Assoc. & TIME Magazine as one of "68 distinguished automobile dealers" to be "recipients of the 10th annual TIME Magazine Quality Dealer Award." In 1976, he received a certificate and gift from OK State Tech in recognition of his services as a member of the automotive center advisory committee.
The Benefiels enjoyed travel in their early marriage years by camping — often with the old travel trailer that his folks had built. In years to come they would tour Europe, England, Mexico and Canada.
Soon after graduating at Lambert High School in 1935, Ted leased a service station in Cherokee, OK. He enjoyed learning to drive and work on cars at an early age. In 1931 when he went to California with seven other members of the family, he drove a great deal of the way. He was only 14 but was an excellent driver.
On 13 June 1937, at the Baptist Church, Cherokee, he was wed to Pauline Thomas, the daughter J. F. & Mary Ellen Thomas, of Alfalfa Co., OK. Born to this union were a daughter and son.
Soon after opening the station, his ability was recognized, and he was asked to work for the Ford Garage at Cherokee. In 1938 he transferred to Enid where he was parts manager for that Ford Garage and the family lived there for 20 years. In 1959, he bought the Ford dealership in Okeene, and 9 years later they changed to the larger dealership in Purcell.
He was president of the OK Automobile Assoc., and in 1979 he was chosen by the Nat. Automobie Dealers Assoc. & TIME Magazine as one of "68 distinguished automobile dealers" to be "recipients of the 10th annual TIME Magazine Quality Dealer Award." In 1976, he received a certificate and gift from OK State Tech in recognition of his services as a member of the automotive center advisory committee.
The Benefiels enjoyed travel in their early marriage years by camping — often with the old travel trailer that his folks had built. In years to come they would tour Europe, England, Mexico and Canada.
Mr. Benefiel was the son of Charles Theodore & Florence Elizabeth "Lizzie" (Schwennesen) Benefiel.
Soon after graduating at Lambert High School in 1935, Ted leased a service station in Cherokee, OK. He enjoyed learning to drive and work on cars at an early age. In 1931 when he went to California with seven other members of the family, he drove a great deal of the way. He was only 14 but was an excellent driver.
On 13 June 1937, at the Baptist Church, Cherokee, he was wed to Pauline Thomas, the daughter J. F. & Mary Ellen Thomas, of Alfalfa Co., OK. Born to this union were a daughter and son.
Soon after opening the station, his ability was recognized, and he was asked to work for the Ford Garage at Cherokee. In 1938 he transferred to Enid where he was parts manager for that Ford Garage and the family lived there for 20 years. In 1959, he bought the Ford dealership in Okeene, and 9 years later they changed to the larger dealership in Purcell.
He was president of the OK Automobile Assoc., and in 1979 he was chosen by the Nat. Automobie Dealers Assoc. & TIME Magazine as one of "68 distinguished automobile dealers" to be "recipients of the 10th annual TIME Magazine Quality Dealer Award." In 1976, he received a certificate and gift from OK State Tech in recognition of his services as a member of the automotive center advisory committee.
The Benefiels enjoyed travel in their early marriage years by camping — often with the old travel trailer that his folks had built. In years to come they would tour Europe, England, Mexico and Canada.
Soon after graduating at Lambert High School in 1935, Ted leased a service station in Cherokee, OK. He enjoyed learning to drive and work on cars at an early age. In 1931 when he went to California with seven other members of the family, he drove a great deal of the way. He was only 14 but was an excellent driver.
On 13 June 1937, at the Baptist Church, Cherokee, he was wed to Pauline Thomas, the daughter J. F. & Mary Ellen Thomas, of Alfalfa Co., OK. Born to this union were a daughter and son.
Soon after opening the station, his ability was recognized, and he was asked to work for the Ford Garage at Cherokee. In 1938 he transferred to Enid where he was parts manager for that Ford Garage and the family lived there for 20 years. In 1959, he bought the Ford dealership in Okeene, and 9 years later they changed to the larger dealership in Purcell.
He was president of the OK Automobile Assoc., and in 1979 he was chosen by the Nat. Automobie Dealers Assoc. & TIME Magazine as one of "68 distinguished automobile dealers" to be "recipients of the 10th annual TIME Magazine Quality Dealer Award." In 1976, he received a certificate and gift from OK State Tech in recognition of his services as a member of the automotive center advisory committee.
The Benefiels enjoyed travel in their early marriage years by camping — often with the old travel trailer that his folks had built. In years to come they would tour Europe, England, Mexico and Canada.
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