ABOUT BILL LUKE

In 1873, a teenager with an adventuresome spirit rode into a remote western town populated by about 1,000 hardy souls, liked what he saw, and decided to put down his roots in the desert. His name was Frank Luke and the town was Phoenix.

In the years that followed, Frank married, raised nine children, prospered in business and spent the last 20 years of his life in public service. At the time of his death, in 1939, he was State Tax Commissioner.

Frank Luke Jr. was the fifth child of Ottilia and Frank Luke. He lived only 21 years, but his name and accomplishments became part of American military history.

Second only to Captain Eddie Rickenbacker as a leading American ace of World War I, Luke was credited with 18 victories in nine months of combat. Lieutenant Frank Luke Jr. was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

A statue was erected in his memory at the Arizona State Capitol, and Luke Air Force Base was later named in his honor.

William “Bill” Luke was the youngest of Ottilia and Frank Luke Sr.’s nine children. He was always fascinated by machines and, in 1927 at the age of 18, jumped at the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a young, growing industry.

He became the founder of Bill Luke Chrysler-Plymouth and continued as head of the automobile dealership until his passing in 1988.

During his years as an automobile dealer, Bill Luke also pursued interests in farming, cattle ranching and thoroughbred horses. At one time he owned a stable of 70 race horses and won the Arizona Breeders Award many times.

In 1965, Bill Luke broke ground for a new Chrysler dealership. During that same year, his son Don Luke, at the age of 20, became vice president of Bill Luke Chrysler.

After 32 years at 501 W. Washington Street, the dealership moved in 1967 to a new six-acre facility at 2425 W. Camelback Road.

Dorothy and Bill Luke had five children. The youngest was named Donald “Don” Luke and, like his father, displayed an early interest in machines.

He began working in the family business at age 13, progressed up the ladder to General Manager and eventually became President and CEO of the Bill Luke dealerships.

Don has three sons, Ryan, Chris and Eric, continuing the family’s involvement in the automotive business into another generation.

Don continued to expand and elevate the family business. In 2006, he opened a new Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealership at the Camelback location.

In 2010, the family acquired a dealership at the Tempe Autoplex near Interstate 10 and Elliott Road. Fiat was added in 2012, followed later by Alfa Romeo.

The family continued expanding with a 14-acre automotive dealership at the Santan Motorplex in Gilbert, including a large retail showroom and vehicle reconditioning facility.

As the oldest son of Don Luke, Ryan learned at a very young age what it takes to make a dollar. Like his father, he started working for the family dealership at age 13.

After college, Ryan spent time working with dealerships in San Diego and Omaha, Nebraska.

The sales knowledge and experience he gained outside the family business helped contribute to the development of the dealership’s sales processes.

On November 12, 2018, Ryan became General Manager and Managing Director of Bill Luke Santan.

The Gilbert location has since expanded with a VIP Service Center and a facility dedicated to vehicle detailing.

Chris is the second oldest son of Don Luke and, like his father, displayed an early interest in machines.

Chris started his career as a lot porter and became a lube technician at 16 years old.

He earned a business degree from the University of Arizona and, after college, worked at two separate out-of-state car dealerships to gain an outside perspective on running a dealership.

Chris continued gaining experience across the operation, including working on vehicles and with the Bill Luke Body Shop.

He later moved into leadership of the service side of the family business as Fixed Operations Director.

Eric Luke is the youngest of Don Luke’s three sons. Much like his father, Eric started working for the family at a very young age.

Eric recalls being the youngest person at the dealership at 14 years old and working more than 40 hours a week during summer breaks.

Upon completing his college degree, Eric worked for several automotive dealerships outside the family organization to broaden his knowledge of the industry.

He also worked within different departments at Bill Luke to understand the many aspects of dealership operations.

Eric later moved into leadership at Bill Luke Tempe Alfa Romeo & Fiat.