In the beginning.... Vern Laures was a young man working at the Gambles store in New Hampton when he heard about a job opening at Hebner Chevrolet. Bill Huebner, the dealership’s owner, had just moved to town from Strawberry Point after leaving his career as a mortician. Bill, new to the car business, needed help to run the dealership. After meeting Vern, he decided to hire him—not for the parts department, as Vern thought, but to sell cars.
Vern quickly found his footing in the role. His years at Gambles had earned him the trust of nearly everyone in town, and his honest, personal approach made customers feel at ease. "I knew nearly everyone in this town," Vern recalled. "I don’t care if they bought a pound of nails or a riding lawn mower—I knew the people, and they put a little bit of trust in me because of that." Back then, selling cars was a bit different. Customers often asked him to bring cars out to their farms or homes to take a look. His first new car sale—a 1964 Impala Super Sport—is still a fond memory.
As the business grew, it quickly outgrew its original location downtown, which had previously been an implement shop. "It wasn’t much," Vern said of the old building. "We had no place to park the cars, but we made it work." In 1975, the dealership moved to its current site on Linn Avenue, a space that allowed for more inventory and better service.
In 1981, Vern became the sole owner of the dealership after Bill passed away. Bill had been more than just a boss—he was a mentor and a friend, even co-signing a loan to help Vern buy into the business years earlier. Renaming the dealership Vern Laures Auto Center, Vern carried forward the values they had built together: honesty, hard work, and putting people first.
Reflecting on his career, Vern said, "The best part of the car business has always been the people. I met so many and made so many friends—so many beautiful people." Those relationships became the foundation of the dealership’s success, with many customers returning year after year and several employees staying with the company for decades.
Today, Vern Laures Auto Center continues to uphold the values that Vern and Bill started with back in 1964. Their story is a reminder that dedication, trust, and strong connections can build something truly lasting.
