Rutherford Weekly

It's not every day a family and two lifelong friends get together and buy a Ford franchise. But in Rutherford County on Oct. 5 after months of discussion, Legendary Ford was begun when Shawn Moore, Ronnie Moore, Steve Moore, formerly owners of Moore's Autos; Tim Ridenhour of Friendship Nissan and Rodney Butler, former owner of Butler's Auto Parts, closed the deal with the Ford industry and the former Sisk Family Ford business had new owners. The beginning of Legendary Ford began in early spring when Gene Sisk, owner of Sisk Family Ford, bumped into Shawn Moore and they struck up a conversation about the car business. It seems like the very next day, when Butler ran into John Sisk, who was General Manager of Sisk Family Ford, and they had a similar conversation. Unknown at the time to one another, the Sisks, Moores and Butler began conversation that soon turned to Butler's lifelong friend Ridenhour, asking him to join the picture. After talks between each other and Ford, an offer was made to the Sisk family and two days later, it was a deal. "It was a handshake deal," said Shawn Moore. Anything Gene and John Sisk did was honest and a person could count on their word, always," Shawn said. There were a lot of issues to take care of after the handshake deal that literally took until October to seal the deal with the Ford industry. The Sisk family was looking to close their 13 year business on Oak Street in Forest City to begin a new business venture in Gaffney and so they brought their thoughts to the table with Ronnie, Shawn and their dad Steve Moore, who began Moore's Auto Sales in 1981. Butler was also in the conversation. To seal a deal with Ford, there had to be a person with new car sales business experience in the mix as the Moores had only dealt with used cars. Tim Ridenhour, a lifelong friend of Butler, had nearly 38 years experience in the car sales business, fi rst with Watkins (28 years) and then 9.5 years at Friendship Nissan in Forest City in the new car sales business. Before the Ford company would sign off on the new deal, there had to be a general manager at the franchise or Ford could appoint someone on their own as general manager, Ridenhour explained. Although Ridenhour had put in his unoffi cial notice that he was retiring in December 2023 from Friendship Nissan, he decided to put that off for a while and agreed to join the business. With the fi ve friends and business partners there are 100 years experience in the car business. On Oct.5, the deal with Ford was sealed. The Moores, Butler and Ridenhour owned a Ford dealership which was a lifelong dream of the Moores. Moore's Auto began when Steve Moore opened a car business on Broadway Street, across from Florence Baptist Church. In about 1990 Steve Moore bought property on S. Broadway, just beyond Florence, built a building and opened the car lot. Today that lot is vacant. Continued on page 2. ISSUE NO. 44 • November 2, 2023 ISSUE NO. 44 • November 2, 2023 • • RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408 RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408 ©Community First Media Community First Media 356 E. Main St., Lawndale 704-538-0508 Mon-Fri. 7:30am-6pm • Sat. 8am-4pm mainstreethardwareinc.com Locally Owned & Operated FALL SAVINGS ALL MONTH LONG ALL KNIVES IN STOCK! 10 % OFF BEST PRICES AROUND! CHECK US OUT! WE'RE STOCKED WITH LEAF BLOWERS COME IN FOR OUR BEST DEALS! WE'RE EXPANDING OUR MILWAUKEE TOOL SECTION! OVER 100 PAIR! FREE GIFT WITH EACH PURCHASE! 20 % OFF ALL BOOTS IN STOCK ONLY S O E CO C ! N.C. TRACTOR & FARM SUPPLY 299 Railroad Ave., Rutherfordton • 828-288-0395 Mobile: 828-429-5008 • mf1dpshehan@gmail.com SALES • SERVICE • PARTS IF YOU BUY ANYWHERE ELSE YOU WILL PAY TOO MUCH! IF YOU BUY ANYWHERE ELSE YOU WILL PAY TOO MUCH! PROUDLY SERVING RUTHERFORD, CLEVELAND, GASTON, LINCOLN, POLK COUNTIES AS THE AREAS HOMETOWN MASSEY FERGUSON DEALER. Great Selection Great Selection Our 31 st Year • Over 25,000 Weekly Readers Legendary Ford is open after Legendary Ford is open after Sisk family moves to new ventures Sisk family moves to new ventures Article and Photos by Jean Gordon. Ronnie Moore, Shawn Moore, Tim Ridenhour, Rodney Butler and Steve Moore with Gracie. Jonathan Lotz says he'll talk about Jesus Grandson of Billy Graham leading upcoming revival services at Florence Baptist. A grandson of the late Dr. Billy Graham will be in Rutherford County Sunday, Nov. 5 until Wednesday, Nov. 8 to preach revival messages at Florence Baptist Church in Forest City. All services will be in the sanctuary with the Sunday worship at 11 a.m. Evening services, Sunday-Wednesday, will be at 6 p.m. Jonathan Lotz, the son of Anne Graham Lotz and the late Danny Lotz, said during a telephone interview recently, he wants folks in Rutherford County to come and hear how Jesus changed his life "and how Jesus can change theirs." "I am an itinerant preacher," Lotz said. He described himself as an itinerant preacher, an evangelist who preaches the basic Christian redemption message when traveling around to different groups of people. Florence Baptist is just one of several churches where Lotz has been called to revival services this fall. "I've never emailed anyone, called anyone or asked anyone if I could come do a revival," Lotz said. "I leave that up to the Lord" and then he preaches where he's called. Continued on page 3. Article by Jean Gordon Jonathan Lotz. Legendary Ford has plenty of cars for sale.

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