Lithia Auto Stores

Walt DeBoer started Lithia in 1946 as a single store on "The Plaza" in Ashland, Oregon. In its first year, Lithia had five employees who sold 14 vehicles. Following Walt's death in 1968, Sid DeBoer (eldest son in a family of six children) reorganized and took control of the small Chrysler-Dodge store.

In 1970, Sid purchased the Dodge Center in Medford, shifting operations from Ashland, to the largest market in the area. Dick Heimann, then with the Chrysler Corporation, had formed a strong working relationship with Sid. As a result, Sid convinced Dick Heimann to leave his position with Chrysler and join him in running the Medford store. Since then Lithia has grown from a single store into a successful group of franchised auto-retail stores.

From 1970 to 1990 Lithia experienced substantial growth to a total of 5 stores and 19 franchises in the Southern Oregon area. It is in these stores that the "Lithia" operating model was developed. They are known as the original stores and represent the base for future growth and the model for new operations.