Auto dealerships in Tulsa played a visible role in mid-20th-century local culture through bold advertising, radio personalities, and civic contributions. Local recollections name figures such as Fred Jones, "Jimmy the Giant" of Crager GMC, and D. B. Wilkerson in these stories, though specific archival verifications are recommended. The pattern of dealers supporting community causes persists today through sponsorships and partnerships.

Dealerships as part of Tulsa's local story

Tulsa's civic and cultural life includes more than oil, music, and universities. For many longtime residents, car dealerships have also left a visible mark on the city's character. Dealers shaped the streetscape with bold signage, dominated airwaves with memorable radio spots, and supported community causes in ways that kept them prominent beyond the showroom.

Radio, mascots and memorable ads

Through the mid-20th century and into the television era, auto dealers used local media and over-the-top mascots to build recognition. Tulsa listeners still recall colorful radio personalities and jingles tied to dealer promotions. Local recollections point to specific figures - for example, the dealer Fred Jones is often mentioned in connection with a Tulsa radio station in the 1940s ; another local memory is "Jimmy the Giant," a personality used to advertise trucks for Crager GMC 1. These stories persist in oral histories and small local archives.

Dealers and civic support

Beyond marketing, many dealership owners became civic actors. Dealers invested in institutions, supported cultural projects, and gave to educational causes. One name that appears in accounts of early Tulsa automotive history is D. B. Wilkerson, who operated a used-car business starting in the 1930s and later held a Chevrolet franchise; he is frequently credited in local recollections with supporting the founder of Oral Roberts University during its early years 2.

Today, that tradition continues in broader form: dealerships and auto groups statewide still sponsor charities, school programs, and community events, keeping a foothold in Tulsa's public life. The ways they engage have changed - from radio jingles and oversized billboards to digital marketing, event sponsorships, and community partnerships - but the impulse to connect business and community remains.

Why it matters

Small cultural histories - the jingles people hum, the giant mascots, the owners who served on boards or gave to local causes - add texture to how a city remembers itself. For Tulsa, car dealers helped shape mid-century commercial culture and continue to participate in civic life. Their impact is one of many threads that make the city's past and present more complex and locally distinctive.

  1. Verify whether Fred Jones owned or had financial control of a Tulsa radio station (KFMJ or other) in 1946 and confirm the station call letters and dates.
  2. Confirm the existence and advertising role of a persona called "Jimmy the Giant" tied to Crager GMC in Tulsa and locate contemporary newspaper or broadcast references.
  3. Verify D. B. Wilkerson's business timeline (used-car business starting in 1932, Chevrolet franchise by 1954) and any documented support he provided to Oral Roberts University or its founder.

FAQs about Tulsa Car Dealerships

Did Tulsa car dealers really own radio stations?
Some local accounts link Tulsa dealers to radio ownership or heavy radio advertising, and specific names appear in oral histories. The claim that Fred Jones owned a Tulsa station in the 1940s appears in local recollections but should be verified against broadcasting or business records .
Who was “Jimmy the Giant” and what was Crager GMC?
"Jimmy the Giant" is a remembered advertising persona tied to truck promotions for Crager GMC in Tulsa according to community memory. Contemporary verification in newspaper archives or dealer records is recommended to confirm details .
Did any dealers support Oral Roberts University?
Local accounts associate some Tulsa dealers, including D. B. Wilkerson, with early support for community institutions and the founder of Oral Roberts University. This association appears in oral histories but should be checked against institutional or archival records .
How do dealerships influence Tulsa today?
Modern dealerships generally influence communities through sponsorships, scholarships, event partnerships, and local advertising. In Tulsa, dealers continue to participate in civic life, though the tools and channels (digital media, community events) have changed from mid-century radio and signage.