Progress: Prothro Chevrolet Buick GMC

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If you ask William Prothro to name his favorite part about co-owning the business his grandfather founded in 1926 with his brother, Lannes C. Prothro III, he’ll tell you he likes “not being able to be fired.”

You see, the Prothro family is serious about their automobile sales and service, but they like to “cut up a lot,” William said.

“No, really, I enjoy being able to help our customers find that vehicle that’s right for them,” he said. “That’s really satisfying.”

Prothro Chevrolet was founded nearly nine decades ago by L.C. Prothro Sr. and B.F. Hill. The Prothro patriarch eventually bought hill out in 1932 and ran the business until he died, Lannes Prothro said.

“My daddy, L.C. Prothro II, came on with the business in 1938,” Lannes said. “He passed in 1984, and William and I have run it ever since.”

In their roles as co-owners, the brothers work in all aspects of the business.

“We both do sales, we both work with service as needed,” Lannes said. “I probably do a little bit more in administration, but overall we have the same tasks here.”

He said a challenging part of taking over a business that was already open nearly 60 years when he and his brother took the helm was keeping up the service level.

“We’re extremely fortunate to have a really good crew,” Lannes said. “This doesn’t slight our employees we have now, but finding good help within a small community, particularly for these types of skilled jobs, and to be able to build on that and provide quality service everyday, we’ve just been really blessed to be able to do that.”

“It certainly didn’t happen overnight,” Lannes added.

The brothers are both active in the community, and can frequently be seen at various events throughout the county.

“We’re really proud of the work we do in the community,” Lannes said. “We love it here. We’ve raised a lot of children and grandchildren in this community.”

Lannes said his son, Lannes C. “Pro” Prothro IV, also works at the dealership, and will likely take over one day.

“But I don’t have any plans of going anywhere yet,” Lannes said. “I don’t think William does either. I just can’t imagine retiring and sitting home and doing nothing. I like to play golf, but I don’t want to do it seven days a week.”

He said Pro is especially helpful with the newest technology and social media.

“He really keeps up with all of that, and it’s been a tremendous help,” Lannes said. “Technology just moves so fast now. One year there’s one product and the next there’s another than makes the one from the previous year obsolete.”

Lannes is married to Kay Prothro, a teacher at Manning Primary School; the couple have two children, Pro, and daughter Sara. They have two grandchildren, Caroline, 4, and Molly Grace, 2, from Pro’s marriage to Robin McAleer Prothro.

William is married to Donna Prothro, owner and instructor at The Dancer’s Workshop of Manning; they have three children, Stroman, Evan and McKenzie.

Visit prothrochevy.com.