Bob Germain Sr. NASCAR Team Owner (NAVY)

Father of three Germain Racing team owners dies

By Team Release
June 30, 2008
04:00 PM EDT

NAPLES, Fla. -- Bob Germain Sr., 85, father of NASCAR team owners Bob Jr., Steve and Rick Germain, died peacefully at home while sleeping last Friday night. Germain was one of the most visible residents of Naples, Fla., and a pioneer of the Southwest Florida business community and chairman of the board of Germain Motor Company.
Germain's sons operate Germain Racing, which fields five teams in the Craftsman Truck Series, including one for 2006 series champion Todd Bodine.
Robert L. Germain Sr. was born in Detroit on Jan. 25, 1923. He was raised in Dearborn, Mich., and his first job was as a tour guide for Ford Motor Company. Bob served in the U.S. Navy, where he won the American Campaign Medal with two Battle Stars, the WWII Victory Medal, the Philippine Liberation Medal and the United States Navy Unit Commendation Award.
He was also a graduate of the University of Michigan and following graduation in 1947, he joined his father, Warren Germain, when he opened a Mercury dealership in Columbus, Ohio. That dealership would be the start of Germain Motor Company, which Bob expanded to Florida in 1979, and today is one of America's largest dealership groups.
Germain Motor Company owns and operates 25 franchises in Ohio, Florida, Arkansas and Arizona with more than $1 billion in annual sales. Germain Motor Company and its many affiliated companies are run by Bob's three sons.
As recently as the week of his death, Bob was active at his office in Germain Lincoln-Mercury of Naples, where he worked every day. For many years he has been the dealership's on-camera spokesman, and was integrally involved in the advertising for his dealerships. He also recently became a NASCAR fan, due largely to the success his sons have enjoyed, including a championship season, as team owners in the Craftsman Truck Series and Nationwide Series.
In the Truck Series race at Memphis, the Germain Racing Toyota Tundra teams honored Bob, as the No. 9 and No. 30 Tundras bore Bob Germain Sr. decals and the crewmembers wore navy and gold ribbons -- University of Michigan colors. The No. 7 Toyota Camry team will honor Bob at the upcoming Nationwide race at Daytona International Speedway.
Germain is survived by his wife Elizabeth, his daughter Susan Germain Maahs and son-in-law Wayne Maahs. Three sons and daughters-in-law; Robert Germain Jr. and his wife Gail Germain, Stephen Germain and his wife Kim Germain and Richard Germain and his wife Elizabeth Germain. He was also the grandfather of 13 and great grandfather of 12.
A viewing was scheduled Monday from 6-8 p.m. ET at the Naples Memorial Funeral home at 525 111th Avenue North. The service will be held at the United Methodist Church on Tuesday at 11 a.m. For friends and family in Ohio, a reception will be held on Wednesday from 5-9 p.m. at the Columbus Country Club on East Broad Street.
The Germain family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations in Mr. Germain's name be made to The Boys and Girls Club of Naples.

 

I'm sorry I stated that wrong he was the Father of a NASCAR Team Owner.

 

Hats off ! R.I.P