Featuring Herb Nill's sons Shannon (Dealer Principal and President of the Board) and Eric Nill (Secretary of the Board), this video captures Guaranty's brand identity as the Willamette Valley's low overhead discount dealer. Our Founder, Herb Nill was driven from an early age to be successful after a rough childhood growing up during the Dust Bowl in Broken Arrow Oklahoma. His parents, who ran a small Grocery Store, instilled early lessons of needing to be thrifty and to work hard. Moving to Medford, Oregon at age 12, Herb earned his Eagle Scout Badge and worked in the pear orchards. Picking fruit was his first experience at commission pay. Herb made double what the kids in cold storage made, working side-by-side with the immigrant workers on ladders in the sun all day. Herb graduated from the University of Oregon in 1966 after taking advantage of a track and field scholarship. Herb threw javelin and was coached by the legendary University of Oregon Track & Field coach, Bill Bowerman, whom Herb played for previously at Medford High School.
After graduation, Herb decided to ask the Junction City Chevy Dealer about the Cottage Grove Dealership and was quickly sold on the benefits of the Junction City Dealership. Herb prospected for business everywhere he could. At restaurants, gas stations, in chance encounters and by tagging vehicles with notes.
In 1972 GMC Motorhomes were to be sold at Guaranty through the Chevrolet Dealerships. Herb was one of the first to do so. Then Caribou Motorhomes (Monaco) began converting vans from Guaranty Chevrolet into Class C motorhomes. Guaranty Chevrolet was their first retail dealer. Country Camper (Country Coach) then opened up and Guaranty became their first dealer. Soon Junction City became known as the place to build or buy an RV.
Over the years, Herb’s famous “Eggs are Cheaper in the Country, and so are cars, trucks, motorhomes and trailers” tagline helped drive astounding growth. Guaranty became a household name to residents of western Oregon and eventually became a Top 5 RV Dealer in North America for sales and service by 2015. In 2016, Herb passed away comfortably with his family by his side.
He will always be remembered and his values are etched into Guaranty’s culture. These values are written on the back of Herb’s business cards and each new employee gets them and tries to live by these values today. As Herb said; “Life is a measure to be fulfilled, not a cup to be drained.” He certainly fulfilled gainful employment for his 400 employees and contributed in a small way to the dreams of thousands of his customers and friends.
Guaranty RV Super Centers
Sales • Service • RV Travel Center & RV Park
RV Body Shop • RV Detailing • Chevy Dealership
(833) 523-6683 • Subject to prior sale.
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