(Circa April 1988)
Senior Wiley was born in 1914 in a farm on Flagg Center, IL where he attended the Union Corners school. In 1929, the family moved to Rockford and Wiley got a job as a stock boy at the Metropolitan 5 & 10 cent store located at State and Main streets.
He next got a job at S.E. Rice Accessories installing tires, batteries, and accessories (very early TBA) where the Metro-Center is now. 8 years later, he took a job on the lube rack at Williamson Ford where the John Green Press is now.
In 1941, he moved to Michigan and switched to airplanes installing gun turrets and B-26 bombers and as a carpenter at a war-plant housing project during our maximum mobilization effort.
Returning to Rockford in 1944, he took a job as a maintenance man at National Lock Co. A year later he started out on his own repairing cars in his garage behind his house.
Business went well, so he added 3 stalls. In 1972, he moved into a complete new building at 3316 Kishwaukee Street. His design included 6 large working stalls, stockroom, locker room, and an office.
Business doubled the first year, and tripled the third year. In 1978, the corporation saw Wiley Jr. take over as president, as Wiley decided to retire. Wiley was married in 1934, had 3 children, Connie, Carolyn, and Wiley Jr. After being widowed in 1974, Wiley Sr. remarried in 1978.
He has seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He is a member of the State Street Baptist Church and also serves as a head usher.
His hobbies include boating, fishing, camping, and target shooting. Wiley Jr. was born in Rockford at Swedish American hospital in 1949. He attended Riverdahl grade school, Jefferson and East High.
He started working for his Dad sweeping floors at the age of 14. His interests in engines was encouraged by his Dad as they enjoyed the competition of go-kart racing. When Wiley Jr. started working full time in the garage, he remembers his primary instructions were to keep his eyes open and his mouth shut.
Difficult for a 16 year old! Weekends were spent at the dragway with his 442-Olds. With the conflict in Vietnam, Wiley was drafted into the army in 1968. He received tank corps basic training at Ft. Know, KY, followed by anti-aircraft missile training at Ft. Bliss, TX.
He was assigned to the First Infantry Division at Augsburg, Germany, until he was discharged in 1970 with the rank of E-5. Back at the shop, his personnel include Rod Hoff, Steve Lawrence, Larry Toye, and Pete Breit. His wife Tammy does the secretarial duties.
Wiley and Tammy have 4 boys. His hobbies are weekend camping with family and fishing. I am sure Wiley (rhymes with smiley) would like to meet you too so stop in and meet Wiley and Daniel.
Written by Stan (The Sun Man) Naruz.
