Hugh Robben considers himself lucky because he's spent his entire career doing what he loves: fixing vehicles.
The Dodge City man started working as a mechanic at the age of 15, when his father got him a job with Richard Looney's repair shop. Robben was managing Looney's business by the time he was 21, and he decided two years later to launch his own shop.
"When I was 23 is when he shut his business down," Robben told the Globe on Saturday. "And that's when I decided, 'Well, I've got as good a shot now as any.'"
Three decades later, Hugh's Truck and Auto Repair is still going strong.
Robben's customers, employees and friends celebrated 30 years in business Saturday with a barbecue lunch inside the shop, located at 112 Pearl St. in south Dodge City.
Jetmore resident Chris Harms, a longtime friend and customer, said he attended the celebration to support Robben.
"He's very loyal and trustworthy," Harms said. "You don't have to worry about nothing when he works on it."
Building a business
Robben had built up a small customer base when he was still working at Richard's Repair, and people followed him when he opened his first business in a small shop just off Woodland Avenue. Six months later, he moved to his present location.
He launched his shop with a $362 tax refund check and struggled financially for the first five years. He considered giving up at one point five or six years in, but then his mother talked him out of it.
"She loaned me $10,000, and I debated whether to borrow the money from her," Robben said. "But I borrowed the money from her. It was in no time I had her paid back, and business has been really good ever since."
Robben's shop stopped fixing cars about 15 years ago, and his crew of six employees now specializes in repairing trucks, diesel engines and electronics. He said the current economic downturn has not affected his business, because people always need to get their vehicles fixed.
He attributed his success to determination, strong customer service and plenty of repeat business.
"I just want to thank all of my loyal customers for my success," he said.
One of his longtime friends, Noble Snyder, said that Robben has a reputation for doing good work.
"When he does something, he does it so you don't have any rework to do," Snyder said. "That's the only way to do things."
Reach Eric Swanson at (620) 408-9917 or e-mail him at eric.swanson@dodgeglobe.com.
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