Gary Kirtland says he bought his first car at age 15. Conner Stewart sold him the car. At the time Stewart owned a Sohio gas station at the corner of Main and Jefferson Streets (now owned by Kirtland).
“I told my dad that I wanted this car – a 1954 Ford – and I bought it,” said Gary. Stewart let Gary park the car on his Sohio lot.
Since he wasn’t old enough to drive, after school he’d go start it, rev up the engine and mess around with it. He eventually blew the engine simply by revving it up too much.
This story is much longer and get better, but to make this long story short, Gary eventually bought the station. Here’s how that happened:
When he was 13 or 14 Gary started mowing the grass for Stewart. Then he started a repair shop in his grandmother’s garage in Bluffton.
After graduating from Bluffton High School in 1970, Gary went to work at the Mt. Cory Sohio, across from the former Nickerson’s Farms restaurant at the State Route 235 exchange. Two years later he was working at the Sohio station at State Route 103, Bluffton. He remained there for eight years.
During this time, Jim Kinn’s mother operated the former Stewart service station that Gary would eventually purchase.
In 1985 Gary convinced Sohio to sell him the station and allow him to become an independent dealer. The building at that time had two car bays. Soon after, he added two additional bays at the back of the building.
Then in 1990 he purchased the former Lawson’s store immediately to the north of his shop. He leased it to Tri-County Family Worship Center for the next 11 years. He now uses that building for his business.
Further news.
As most Icon viewers know, Gary recently had an accident while participating in his 2,072nd parachute jump.
We won’t go into the details here, however it’s important to note he has had several famous parachute trips in Bluffton in his career.
One included dropping the game ball on an athletic event at Harmon Field. Another involved landing on Main Street, between Elm and Vine, simply on a bet. There are others; just ask him or George Stechschulte to tell you about them.
During our interview on July 21 concerning the change in his business, several customers stopped in and asked: “You’re going to quit jumping now, right?”
Kirtland, in a walking leg cast, quickly responded – you heard it here first – “If you had a car accident this afternoon would you quit driving?”
End of conversation.
