Gardner Auto Service Owner George Gardner stands in front of his automotive repair shop in Corpus Christi, Texas. (Photos by Lee Roberts)

The business has flourished over these years, which Gardner attributes to good business practices and super employees. "Not having a big turnover of employees was the big thing," he explained about being able to provide great automotive and collision repair services. "Daniel Garcia, for instance, has been here almost 20 years. Once they come to work here and make it past the first three months, they’ve got a home."

Gardner said getting his employees to stay is no accident. He said he provides them a lot of benefits, including a non-contributory retirement plan and training. He also pays employees a salary, so if nothing comes through the door, they know they are getting their full pay check. "What works well for me works well for them," Gardner said about his generous treatment of his employees.

Garcia said he’s been working there so long because of the little things his boss does for his technicians.

"He takes good care of them and backs up our work 100 percent," Garcia said about Gardner. "He ensures we receive training too."

As for the treatment of his customers, Gardner said his focus is very straightforward and simple.

Daniel Garcia, an automotive repair technician who has worked at Gardner Auto Service for the past 19 years, inspects fan blades on a commercial truck.

"We stand behind what we do," he stressed. "If they have a problem I tell them to bring it back and I’ll take a look at it. And we don’t charge for any diagnostics the second time we look at it. It’s a one-time fee. If we find anything fine, if not and they bring it back, there is no extra charge."

Garcia added that the technicians do everything possible to fix a car right. "Our goal is to eliminate return visits and to make sure the customer is satisfied when they drive their car home the first time."

Eventually Gardner’s son moved on with another company, but Gardner continues to be somewhat of an icon in Corpus Christi when it comes to fixing cars, trucks and RVs, both gasoline combustible and diesel engines.

"Now we do it all, which is good," Gardner said. "It’s good when customers say, ‘no matter what needs to be done, Gardner can do it. It doesn’t have to leave that shop.’"

Emil Baker, a combination technician at Gardner Auto Service, sands the body of a Buick Century 2000 in the collision repair shop June 12, 2008.

The automotive repair business moved to its current location at 3717 W.O.W. Road in 1990, and Gardner opened his collision shop across the street in 1994.

"My technicians are factory trained, well educated, experienced on any type of vehicle," Gardner said, adding that these are additional factors that customers look for when they get their vehicles worked on at Gardner Auto Service. "And we have all of the test equipment to perform any required diagnostic work."