Monday, November 12, 2012

Luck is when Opportunity meets Preparation



Jerry Chafton was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky. His family moved to Long Beach, California in 1963. He graduated from Jordan High School in 1964. Shortly after graduation, he married Christine Scofield. They have been married for 48 years. Jerry worked for Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach until 1967. Jerry and Christine have two children, Becky and Jimmy, both reside in Bowling Green, Ky.

After returning to Bowling Green in 1967, Jerry worked for Firestone Tire and Rubber Company and was promoted to Service Manager at age 21.  In March of 1969, Jerry took over a failing Standard Oil Service Station to become their youngest dealer.  Throughout the next 22 years Jerry operated Jerry's Chevron and five other businesses including residential rental properties, Bowling Green Pallet Company,  El Taco (Bowling Green's first Mexican restaurant), Air of Excellence charter service, and Chafton's Farming Enterprise. The farming operation consisted of 500 acres of grain production, a 2000 head per year hog operation, and a 70 cow milk production facility. The operation also included a Feed and Seed business.

In July of 1977, after only two months and two days of training, Jerry received his Private Pilot license.  Within the next year he earned his Commercial/Instrument Rating and continued to fly a variety of airplanes. His flight experience included several trips to the West Coast, Washington DC,  the Bahamas and routine trips to Florida.

In 1990 Chevron Oil Company announced the sale/closure of all 11 neighborhood service stations in the Bowling Green area. At that time, Jerry's Chevron had become one of the leading dealers in Southern Kentucky. Making lemonade out of lemons, Jerry purchased a corner lot located in a new and growing part of town. Jerry and Christine designed, built and operated Tech Tune, Inc. a modern high-tech automotive repair facility with eight bays and a Quick-Lube Center. Tech Tune, Inc. is currently owned and operated by Jerry's son Jimmy. While retaining both commercial property and a residence in Kentucky,  Jerry and Christine are retired Florida residents and divide their time accordingly.

Jerry served as Building/Grounds chairman for the RiverBend Motor Coach Resort in LaBelle, Florida for two years. He was elected as President of the Condo Association  in 2007 and served until 2009. Jerry was one of the first buyers at RiverBend Motor Coach Resort while it was under construction in 2001.

Being raised in a racing family Jerry has been an avid racer all his life. Starting with go-carts and jalopies as a teenager and graduating to cross country motorcycles, drag racing and many forms of stock car racing from 1966 to 2006.

After retiring in 2005, Jerry and Christine continued another life-long passion. You will find them traveling the US in their motor coach and cruising the waters of Southwest Florida in their boat. When not traveling they live in LaBelle, Florida and Bowling Green, Ky.






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