Avery Greene Honda

Avery Greene, born and raised in Detroit, continues a third generation in the automobile business. He definitely has gasoline in his blood. His grandfather, Clarence Avery, designed and built the first moving conveyor belt for Henry Ford that started mass production and the assembly line at the Ford Motor Company, and is honored at The Automobile Hall of Fame in Detroit. Some of Avery's fondest memories are of working on mechanical projects with his grandfather in his workshop.

Avery was always interested in automobiles. He started a lawn mowing business at the age of 10, with a power lawnmower given to him as a Christmas present by his father. Profits from this business enabled him to buy his first car at the age of 12, a 1927 Dodge that didn't run. Garage rental was an even exchange for a freshly mowed neighbor's lawn. At age 13, he built a small car from a spare lawnmower engine and was promptly arrested by the local police chief for driving without a license. So Avery pushed the car outside the city limits to drive it where there was no local law enforcement.

Avery got his driver's license at age 14 (a daylight to dark license) and graduated to a Model A Ford pick-up truck that helped expand his lawn mowing business. Later in high school he hopped up a '56 Chevy and out-dragged most of the local hot rodders.

He attended Hillsdale College in Michigan and received his B.A. degree in 1961. Then to get "ground floor experience" his first job was in Indiana in Service Management first for a Chevrolet dealer and then for a Pontiac-Cadillac dealer. Dating a Detroit girl, gas economy was an issue on an $85 paycheck, so he bought a used Volkswagen parked it in front of the dealership and immediately drew a buyer. Thus another used Volkswagen was brought back from Detroit, having been spotted by Avery's father. After many VW sales, a letter from the Indiana Secretary of State complained that he was buying and selling too many used cars and he was forced to get a dealer's license. That led to the start of a used car business with friend Mike Baker, as Baker and Greene Used Cars in 1962.

Avery and his father opened Greene Motors Volkswagen in Livonia, Michigan, in 1963 which became a successful 10-year venture. In 1973, he moved his family to California and purchased an existing dealership in Vallejo selling Oldsmobiles, GMC Trucks and the newly introduced Honda Civics, originating Avery Greene Motors. In 1979, he relocated his dealership to a new building on six acres along the freeway.

In 1997, as the Oldsmobile division of General Motors prepared to celebrate its Centennial in Lansing, Michigan, Avery organized a caravan of classic and antique Oldsmobiles to drive the 1800 miles from San Francisco to Lansing. That August, Avery, in his 1930 Oldsmobile Roadster, and fifteen other Olds owners had their cars anointed with Pacific Ocean water by then San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown in a formal send off. The caravan grew as they crossed the county and on the last leg, 1600 old Oldsmobiles motored from Chicago to Lansing. 

In 1998, due to General Motors rechanneling, Avery gave up the Oldsmobile franchise to acquire Buick. A year later Oldsmobile was dropped from the G.M. lineup. Then in 2006 with pressure from both G.M. and Honda for exclusive franchises and new or remodeled buildings, Avery sold the GMC Truck and Buick franchises and became an exclusive Honda dealer and has been expanding Honda sales and service ever since.

When in Michigan, Avery had been an active Rotarian and so in California he transferred to the Vallejo Rotary Club. He served on the Vallejo Rotary Board, was elected President in 77-78, and later was a Rotary Area Representative and then Rotary District Lt. Governor in 1997-1998, and has been continually involved in Rotary activities.

In 1986, Avery started the annual tradition for the Vallejo Chamber of Commerce of the Athena Award which honors a woman who has made a special contribution to the local community. He presented the 23rd Athena in January 2010.

Over the years he has served as a local Board Member for:

• The United Way
• The YMCA
• The Westamerica Bank Advisory Board
• The Northern California Oldsmobile Dealers Advertising Association
• The Northern California GMC Truck Dealers Advertising Association
• The Northern California Honda Dealers Advertising Association

He was active in the YMCA Indian Guides, a joint venture with fathers and sons.
 
He was elected to the local GMC Truck Dealer Council over successive years and later served on the GMC Truck National Dealer Council as a Western State Representative.

He has been President of numerous organizations including:

• The Silverado Council of Boys Scouts of America
• The North Bay YMCA (He was active in the YMCA Indian Guides, a joint venture with fathers and sons.)
• GMC Truck Dealers Advertising Association
• Vallejo Chamber of Commerce

 In 2000, Avery was instrumental in bringing a prestigious classic car show, The Silverado Concours d'Elegance to Mare Island Vallejo, and served as its President over its 5 year run, providing funds for charitable local organizations.

 In 1986, realizing the need for political involvement to protect the interests of California's Auto Dealers, Avery was elected to the Board of the Northern California Motor Car Dealer's Association. In 1991, the northern and southern California associations combined and he was elected Director on the newly combined board. In 1996, he was elected to the position of Regional Vice President serving on the Legislative Committee. He was elected Secretary/Treasurer in 1999, First Vice President in 2000, and President in 2001. On September 11th, 2001 Avery and his wife Joan were in Washington D.C. for the National Auto Dealers Association, representing California when the terrorists struck. The return trip was an interesting drive across America. Following his Presidency he served as Chairman of the Legislative Committee, meeting every six weeks to monitor California state laws covering the largest state dealer association in the nation serving 1400 dealers, to protect the dealership franchise system.

 As a past member of the Travis Air Base Historical Association and the Travis Regional Air Force Committee in 2001, Avery was then named as his Honorary Commander for the year by Colonel Jim Rubeor, Commander of the 349th Air Reserve Unit. This is a civilian role to introduce an Air Force Officer to the local community.

 Avery, through Avery Greene Motors, has established many traditions within the community, such as:

• Providing a new car to raffle off for the Ducky Derby, an annual event sponsored by the Vallejo Chamber and the Vallejo Rotary to raise money for local charities.
• An Annual Dealership Car Show for old classic cars
• The December donation of canned goods given to the Salvation Army for distribution to local needy families at Christmas time.

His passion for vehicles has always been a favorite form of relaxation and enjoyment. He is constantly restoring and adding to a collection of classic and antique cars, trucks and tractors and owns numerous motorcycles.

Avery has participated in many motorcycle tours across the U.S. and Europe as a member of the International Fellowship of Motorcycling Rotarians (I.F.M.R.).  Always ready for a new challenge, Avery discovered a need for new motorcycles on the island of Haiti, for World Neighbors, an organization that helps underprivileged nations help themselves, and the need for small motorcycles to get the World Neighbors trainers into the remote villages. Through a fundraising venture assisted by Rotary, Avery established a charity motorcycle ride and was able to raise the funds to provide three Honda motorcycles for the World Neighbors trainers in Haiti. Both Rotary and World Neighbors honored Avery for this achievement.

 Avery has two grown children: Chris and Kim. Avery and his wife, Joan, own a ranch near Prescott, Arizona where they spend as much time as possible. His passion for vehicles had led to a new venture; the restoration of classic tractors used at the ranch.

 Avery credits Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, Michigan with instilling in him the necessary principles to be an effective leader and he is passing on that message to the managers of his business. Managers have a plaque on their desk with the following inscription:

       Leadership - An effective leader is one, who through actions, words, and/or deeds, motivates others to his/her or their common goals.

Avery is constantly motivating others. 

            As the economy worsened in 2008 and 2009 and the automobile business slowed to a crawl, Avery had to lay off numerous employees and take over the management of Avery Greene Honda himself. There appears to be a slow recovery for 2010. Loyal, satisfied customers over the past 36 years rely on Avery Greene Honda for service, parts and collision repair and become repeat buyers for new and used vehicles. It does not look as though Avery will retire any time soon.