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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Gus Paulos, the auto dealer whose TV commercials showing only the top of his head poked fun at his short stature, has died at 64.
Paulos, a third-generation owner of Gus Paulos Chevrolet, died Sunday after a two-year battle with cancer.
Mark Drennan, a General Motors zone manager, said Paulos did such a good job building community awareness about his dealership that he could have fun with his advertising campaigns.
"They basically could spend the money to be funny and basically let people know Gus Paulos was a great place to buy a car. They didn't have to scream, '$10,000 off,' " he said.
In 1980, Paulos took over the family auto business in West Valley City from his father's uncle. He had started working there at age 14 doing janitorial work and washing cars.
The brothers inherited the dealership in 1938 when their father, a Greek immigrant who became Magna's first automobile dealer in 1921, died in an auto accident.
Paulos was born on Sept. 23, 1941, in Salt Lake City. He graduated from Cyprus High School and attended the University of Utah on athletic scholarships for football and wrestling. He later served in the Marine Corps.
Paulos' business was recognized with many awards, including Time magazine's 2004 Quality Dealer Award, said his daughter-in-law, Debbie Paulos.
In 1987, Gus Paulos Chevrolet was also named one of the nation's top 500 automobile dealers by Wards Auto Dealer magazine, which evaluated dealerships across the country for dealer sales volume, sales professionalism and service excellence.
Paulos' family and friends described him as a selfless man who gave back to his community.
"He was a very kind and generous and inspiring father, and businessman, and set many examples," said his son, Greg Paulos, 42, who will become the fourth generation of Pauloses to own the dealership.
John Franks, general manager of the dealership, said Gus Paulos gave to charities and individuals and organized a campaign against drunken driving.
Paulos sponsored high school football and basketball in West Valley City and provided for scholarships at the University of Utah, his daughter-in-law said.
He also gave money to cancer research and to individual cancer patients who could not otherwise afford medications or treatments.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara, four sons, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
