Today, almost 40 years after a Utah dealership opened its doors for business, one of the state's largest companies celebrates an anniversary that not only commemorates the achievement and expansion of this group of companies, but offers a moment to reflect on the legacy and effect one man and a simple philosophy can have.
Larry H. Miller was born in 1944 and grew up in the Capitol
Hill area
of Salt Lake City, Utah. Following his graduation from West High, Larry
married
his high school sweetheart, Gail Saxton, and began working construction
until
1964 when he went to work for American Auto Parts.
In
1966, he became the
parts manager at a Utah auto dealer, and then later moved to Denver to
work as
the parts manager for two Denver Toyota dealerships. He was soon
promoted to
operations manager over five Toyota stores, where he became the number
one
Toyota parts dealer in the United States and the first to hit a million
in
sales, and then two million.
In 1979, Miller purchased a Toyota dealership in the Salt Lake City suburb of Murray, Utah. It opened as Larry H. Miller Toyota. In the years that followed, more dealerships were opened. Today, the Larry H. Miller Management Company operates 23 different automotive brands under 39 dealership locations.
In 1979, Miller purchased a Toyota dealership in the Salt Lake City suburb of Murray, Utah. It opened as Larry H. Miller Toyota. In the years that followed, more dealerships were opened. Today, the Larry H. Miller Management Company operates 23 different automotive brands under 39 dealership locations.
But the company growth didn't stop with the Jazz and the automotive dealerships. Because of his strong commitment to sports and family entertainment, Miller successfully added a collection of businesses to the organization. Some of these entities include the Salt Lake Bees, the AAA affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim; Miller Motorsports Park; the Megaplex Movie Theatres; television and radio media outlets; financial institutions, sports memorabilia retail outlets and many others. However, the most important aspect of growth is the fact that, over the last 30 years of business, the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies has become a family of over 6,500 employees in six states.
With so much evolving, changing and expanding since that first dealership opened its doors in 1979, one thing has remained constant, the continuing mission to exceed the expectations of customers, employees and the community as a whole. Larry's goal to be the benchmark for excellence in every aspect of business is what has moved the company forward over the past thirty years. And it is this mission and philosophy that will undoubtedly move it forward for the next thirty years.
Larry, standing,
w/Roger Racer, our Parts Manager
Mission
To Enrich Lives
Vision
To be the best place in town to work, and the best place in town to do business.
Values
Larry H. Miller Toyota Murray offers a unique, exciting and enriching work environment for the best of the best. Our employees excel by embracing our organization's core values:
Integrity
Hard Work
Stewardship
Service