Colorful auto dealer Tex Earnhardt dies in Arizona at age 89

PHOENIX (AP) — Tex Earnhardt, a colorful automobile dealer who got his first franchise at age 20 and eventually had nearly two dozen dealerships in Arizona and Nevada, has died. He was 89.

Earnhardt Auto Centers announced the death on the company’s website Sunday. The cause of death wasn’t immediately released.

Company officials said Earnhardt moved from rural Texas to the Phoenix suburb of Chandler as a teenager where he worked at his family’s gas station and also was a rodeo cowboy.

In 1951, he became the youngest person to receive a Ford franchise at age 20.

Earnhardt eventually had 23 dealerships — mostly in metro Phoenix and the Las Vegas area — in 17 auto brands.

He was famous for his TV commercials that showed Earnhardt in cowboy attire atop a bull as he talked about a great deal on his autos and then delivered his trademark slogan of “and that ain’t no bull.”

Earnhardt’s two sons —Hall and Jim Babe — and several of his grandchildren ran the auto centers in recent years.

Due to social distancing stemming from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Earnhardt’s family said a celebration of his life will be held later this year.