Hayworth feels ‘blessed’ to be a part of Elizabethton

O*STORY BY ANGELA CUTRER AND PHOTOS BY LARRY N. SOUDERS*

On work days, Kevin Hayworth, 58, drives 60 miles round trip from Mountain City to Elizabethton to run his business. “I may live in Mountain City, but I reside in Elizabethton,” Hayworth said of his shop, Hayworth Tire & Auto Service, at 4074 US-19E.

It’s a family affair: Brother Jeff and his son Mason run a Johnson City location, while another brother, Brian, and son Austin run a shop in Kingsport.

All the Hayworths of the region are well known for several things: the services they provide and the individuals behind the name.

That’s just how the Hayworths’ dad wanted it. ‘“You can spend money on advertising and such, but word of mouth is the best advertising,’ is what he always told us,” Kevin said of his dad, Offie, who passed away in 2013. Mom Betty is still going strong in support of her children.

In keeping with tradition, Kevin runs the Elizabethton location with his own son. “He has himself a nice little family with three kids and if he wants to take over this business, that’s what we’ll do [when the time comes],” Kevin said. He also wanted to give thanks to his assistant manager, D.J. Helmick.

Kevin and his wife, Kim, have the support of their children, Zack and wife, Brittany, and kids Knox, Behr and Sumitt; as well as daughter Megan and her husband, Matt, along with their children Cash and Caroline.

The strength of the Hayworth name can be found in a promise to treat others as they would want to be treated. “Dad always said that if you treat your customers like friends, they become friends, and then their families become friends,” Kevin said.

“And it means so much to us when a customer is happy. Especially widows, who rely on us and trust us to take care of them. So many have told me ‘my husband always took care of this,’ and we understand that they worry about these things now with their husbands gone. Many people say ‘take it to the Hayworths’ because they know we will do our best to make them happy and keep them safe.”

When their father retired in the 2000s, he gave each son the shop he was running. Beforehand, when Kevin started in the business under his father’s guidance, Kevin mainly delivered tires and “didn’t know anything about the retail part.”

And his shop had started out as a little service station that had opened, closed, reopened and closed again as it was run by different people. “People were wary at first,” Kevin said of the atmosphere when they first opened. “They’d seen the openings and closing and wondered if we were going to stick around.” With only one other employee, even Kevin worried they’d not make it 10 years, much less 37.

However, the shop thrived as it focuses on tires, brakes, alignments and other small auto service offerings. But it didn’t start that way: The Hayworths’ wholesale tire business expanded only after larger tire companies came in and undercut prices. It’s all thanks to that action that started the Hayworths making their shops personal and friendly.

“It’s been such a blessing,” Kevin said. “We always make sure [we are involved with the Elizabethton community]; we sponsor schools and ball teams and so on. We’re proud we have so many friends here.”

Great care is given to each customer’s car at Hayworth Tire Center to ensure that no damage is done during a tire change. Tire technician Josh Holly collects the cover for the lug nuts on a Volvo prior to pulling off the tire to be replaced.

Bio: Michael Simerly grew up in Carter County and is a graduate of Happy Valley High School and East Tennessee State University. His father Norman “Wormy” worked at North American Rayon and his mother Phyllis worked for the Tennessee Department of Employment Security. He began his career in sales and marketing in Charlotte, N.C. His corporate and food brokerage positions provided work and travel to 48 of the states. In November 2018 he won his first election to the Elizabethton City Council and is currently serving his second term. Additionally, he serves on numerous local boards within Carter County: Keep Carter County Beautiful-Treasurer, Carter Compassion CenterVP, Liaison to Elizabethton City School Board of Education, Elizabethton/ Carter County Animal Shelter Board, Past Director Sycamore Shoals State Park Friends Group Board and the Elizabethton Alcohol and Beer Board.

1. What do you think makes Carter County unique by comparison to other places?

It’s all about the people of Northeast Tennessee from my church family, immediate family, friends and neighbors. Folks look out for one another, with phone calls to check on you and a warm smile and hug just to say hello! I always tell everyone I meet that I live in God’s country and if you don’t believe me, give me a couple of days and let me show you around Carter County and you will fully understand. We are surrounded by some of the most beautiful mountains and streams that you will ever see! I’ve spent most of my life fishing and Carter County has the best fishing anywhere on the East Coast period!!! Ask all of the fly guides why they drive over from North Carolina every day to fish the Watauga River!

2. What is your favorite place to visit in Carter County?

An early summer morning on the Watauga River with your fly rod is hard to beat or spending a summer afternoon on top of Roan Mountain just taking in the beauty and freshness of the air! Also, a summer evening at the local baseball game watching the Elizabethton River Riders playing baseball is hard to beat with the air conditioning from the Watauga River making for a cool wonderful evening! Saturday nights downtown Elizabethton are my favorites for the car shows and visiting with old friends and new visitors to East Tennessee. Of course, Saturday night would not be complete without a hotdog or an ice cream from Simple Blessings General Store!

3. Do you think living in Carter County has changed you in anyway?

I was gone for 25 years with my work life but always came home to visit family all those years and always missed home! When working in the corporate world I always told my colleagues and clients about the small town of eastern Tennessee that I called home. For over 25 years I brought many of those folks to my East Tennessee home for fly fishing trips or just to enjoy the natural beauty of the mountains. Moving back to my East Tennessee home has really changed my attitude on life and my love for the area thru my political work and wanting to give back helping others within our area.

4. What is your favorite time of year?

Without a question spring is my favorite time of year. I just don’t care for the cold days of winter and I always get excited once the calendar gets close to March and knowing the warms days of spring are around the corner with all of the beauty of the flowers and trees starting to wake up from their winter rest.

5. If you were to meet someone planning a visit to the Carter County area for the first time, what places would you tell him or her not to miss?

I really believe I could be a tour guide for Carter County. First stop would be downtown Elizabethton to browse in our many wonderful shops and show the visitors our Covered Bridge Park! Then we would take a trip over to Sycamore Shoals State Park to explain our local history and of course a lunch stop downtown at City Market for one of Jennifer Hughes’ daily specials!After lunch we would make a trip up to the Watauga Lake and rent a boat for a ride on the beautiful mountain lake. By the end of the day we would spend the night in one of our numerous river rental cabins on the Watauga River. Our second day would be a guided fly fishing trip down the Watauga River launching from the Little Wilbur Dam and finish day number two at the Ridgewood BBQ having some delicious dinner. Then we would have to make a drive up to Stoney Creek to see the Blue Hole and then onto Roan Mountain State Park with a picnic lunch on top of Roan Mountain. Of course you would have to hike up to the balds on top of Roan Mountain to fully understand why I call my East Tennessee home “God’s Country”!