From the Publisher

MYP ARENTS ARE celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary this summer. My brother and I (along with our families) were able to give them a rousing 50th Year Anniversary party complete with out-of-town friends and family, a hotel chauffeur service, and delightful outdoor garden party vibes.

This year will be a smaller circle of party attendees, mainly those in and around their North Carolina CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community), but still a milestone worth celebrating. At slightly more than half that marriage longevity of my own (31 years and counting), a 60 year commitment can sometimes seem staggering - especially in light of the struggles of just trying to live peacefully in a home with another human being!

I am impressed with the shear dedication of a 60+ year marriage. All the shared experiences, hardships, losses, and joys over all those many years is amazing to think about. I have a friend who likens marriage to being two rocks in a rock tumbler that in essence “knocks all our pointy parts off.” Years of growth as a couple can sometimes really feel that way!

The promise to love someone “for better or for worse” is a tough calling. It requires a healthy dose of selflessness, grace, and compassion, along with a decided sense of humor - from both of you. As comedian Rita Rudner once mused, “I love being married. It’s so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.”

Now aren’t you glad that you married your very favorite person? I am!

Susan Cafferty Publisher + Editor

to find in today’s business environment, and we certainly don’t take that for granted. Our belief is that if we take good care of our team, they will in turn take good care of our customers.

It is our long-term staff plus the fact that we are a locally based, family-owned business that differentiates us from other tire and service stations. You can throw a rock down Kingston Pike and hit five different tire stores, but our job is to do more than just sell you tires and get you out the door. At Matlock, we want to be an all inclusive tire and repair facility that serves our customers better than anywhere else. We are a relationship based business, and our people enjoy greeting customers by name when they walk in the door.

EK: Where is Matlock Tire Service & Auto Repair headed as a company?

Joe: We intend to keep our hometown, small business level of service by continuing to sponsor nearby schools and churches and by being involved members in the local chambers of commerce. At Matlock, it’s important that the dollars spent with us stay in our area to support the very community that has supported us. We have several 70th Anniversary events planned this year to honor the occasion, including some big sales this summer and fall.

We are also determined to stay on the cutting edge of industry and technological changes. For example, electric vehicles are becoming more common, and that is a definite shift in our industry - there are now tires made specifically for electric vehicles.

Cars are also more computerized than ever before. You used to think of a mechanic as a grease covered man with a rag hanging out of his overalls; mechanics are now more like computer engineers than anything else. We devote a lot of time to educate ourselves on new products and processes in order to be in the best position to continue to serve our customers. We recognize that includes being the leading experts in our industry.

EK: What is the best way for interested customers to find out more?

Joe: Please visit our website, where you can request an appointment and shop for tires without leaving your couch. If you would prefer speaking with a member of our team, don’t hesitate to call one of our shops. We want customers to be able to reach us in the most convenient way for them. With roomy waiting areas - both inside and outside - and a separate play space if you need to keep the kids occupied, your comfort is important to us. Our policy is to contact customers with any questions, issues, and pick up times rather than wait for you to call us. Let us know how we can help you.

Matlock Tire Service & Auto Repair

Knoxville/Farragut 865.351.2656

Hardin Valley 865.276.6840

Lenoir City 865.986.6533

Maryville 865.238.0127

Athens 423.744.9828

MatlockTireService.com

Founded by Joe and Jane Matlock in 1953 as a Lenoir City Esso Service Station, the business originally served as a gas station for vehicles traveling on what was then the main thoroughfare through the state: Highway 70.

In 1960, the newly built interstate changed the traffic flow and forced Joe to update his business model. He opened a tire recapping shop, then added new tires to his retail and eventually entered into more maintenance and repair. Joe’s son, Jimmy, started working in the business “as soon as he was old enough to hold a broom” according to his mother, Jane.

In 1982, Joe passed away of a heart attack, leaving a 23 year old Jimmy to run the business. Through hard work and a tremendous group of employees, Jimmy proceeded with opening a second location in Concord (now known as Farragut).

Now with shops in Lenoir City, Farragut, Athens, Maryville, and Hardin Valley, Matlock Tire Service & Auto Repair is celebrating their 70 year anniversary.