This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.

Back in 1924, LeGrand Smith purchased a Ford franchise and moved to Spanish Fork to start his business. Little did he know that 84 years later his dealership would be thriving as the state's oldest Ford dealership.

Today, LeGrand's granddaughter, Glenda Lyman, runs the company, which serves residents in both Utah and Juab counties. Glenda grew up in the family business doing accounting jobs and title work through high school and college. After graduating from BYU, she started working at the dealership full-time, later purchasing it from her father. In 1999, Glenda built a state-of-the-art service and repair shop along I-15. She also opened a small satellite dealership in Nephi in 2001.

Glenda strongly believes in being a hands-on owner. She makes it a point to come into work every day, and she manages the dealership herself instead of hiring a full-time manager. As a well-established Spanish Fork business, she feels community involvement is essential. Smith Auto Company regularly supports sports teams and livestock shows, and lends cars for city royalty to use in parades.

Car-buying trends have changed quite a bit over the years. Many customers are concerned with purchasing fuel-efficient vehicles to combat the ever-increasing gas prices. The Ford Focus and Fusion are two of the top-selling cars. The F-series trucks, both heavy and light duty, are also popular.

Cars today are equipped with a larger variety of electronics including TVs, DVD players, satellite radios, backup systems or even cameras so parents can see their children in the back seat. Safety is also a high priority, so vehicles have a variety of safety features buyers can choose from.

As Utah County grows, Glenda hopes to see Smith Auto Company continue expanding to offer even better service and products.

For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.

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