01/26/2021
We send our love and prayers to the George Lane Family
Thoughts and Prayers to the Lane Family :(
(Shared from a Lane press release)
George Lane
1937-2021
It is with incredible sadness we inform you of the passing of George Lane on January 26, 2021. While George was the founder of Lane Automotive, he was so much more to the many who have worked here over the past 57 years. He was a tremendously generous man who mentored, inspired, and forged lifelong friendships with those blessed to know him. For many employees, including those whose first jobs were here at Lane Automotive, George was more like a father or a grandfather.
When he founded Lane Automotive in 1964, he never expected it to grow into being one of the leading distributors of automotive performance parts in the world. He had an unparalleled passion for cars, racing, and really anything with a motor! To feed this passion, George would make frequent trips to the Detroit area to purchase performance parts for he and friends, and this led to his first startup, a part-time Speed Shop operated out of his garage. This not only helped to support his wife, Janet, but his growing family of sons, Doug and David. This venture soon began to flourish, and George started selling these parts to local racers and hot rod enthusiasts. As his business grew, Lane Automotive was soon formed and became his heart and soul - something that anyone who ever worked for him, or had the true honor of meeting him, realized instantly. As a pioneer in the Automotive Aftermarket, George played a critical role in shaping the industry into what it is, today. His hard work, dedication and values built the foundation of our company, and his legacy and passion will be felt for generations to come.
George was always an active part of day-to-day life here at Lane Automotive, a regular presence at local racetracks and automotive related events, and a fixture in our local community. Although retired, George still had an office and frequently walked the building to form and nurture relationships with employees. His love for the company he built was unmatched, and his unwavering respect and consideration for our employees and customers is at the center of our values and culture.
For those of us who have had the honor to know George, he will be sorely missed. For those who never had the opportunity to meet him, words will never truly convey the presence and spirit of George Lane. Please keep the Lane family in your thoughts and prayers.