Patterson retiring

GAINESVILLE - The man who pioneered the live car dealership commercial on Gainesville radio is retiring.

Heyward Patterson has been a three-day-a-week fixiture on morning show radio in Gainesville for more than 30 years.

"I was working for Bert Crowe Used Cars and he and I discussed it and we decided we wanted to go on the radio."

Patterson, appearing on this weekend's Northeast Georgia This Week on WDUN NEWS TALK 550, says he gets stopped on the street by people who may not know his face but know his voice.

He says people will hear him talking and stop and say "you're Heyward Patterson aren't you? I've been listening to you on the radio for years and I knew your voice. I just wanted to meet you."

Patterson retires June 29th and says the secret to being a good car salesman is "honesty," pure and simple.

"It's very simple, just be honest, tell the truth, and do what you say you'll do."


Patterson, who retires June 29th, says "yes" he gets tired of used car salesman jokes because "I don't fall into that category."

Patterson says his retirement plans include traveling with his wife, Fern, a retired school principal.

Patterson says he'll miss his job - and those live radio commercials.