The History of The Ramey Family of Dealerships

In 1937, Bobbie Corbin Ramey, coal miner, was seriously injured in a mining accident. He suffered a broken leg, fractured skull and a broken back. He was out of the mines for 9 years doing odd jobs as he could before going back to coal mining in the Bishop Mine owned by Pocahontas Fuel Company in Bishop, VA.

In 1953 James C Ramey, Sr., son of Bobbie Corbin “Corb” Ramey, enlisted in the military and joined the fight in Korea with the 101st Airborne Infantry in the 5th Regimental Combat Team. James C Ramey served his country until March 9, 1955 when he returned to southwestern Virginia. Later that same year, he opened his first used car dealership in Bishop, VA.

On February 4, 1957 an explosion in the Pine Branch Section of the mine killed several miners. Corb Ramey escaped unharmed, but had to walk several miles out of the mine as the elevator shaft was destroyed. His son told him that if he would not go back into the mines, they would work together and grow the car business. Ramey Used Cars in Bishop, VA soon became Ramey’s first franchise dealership, Ramey Chevrolet, featuring new and used cars, trucks and service.

In the 55 plus years since opening that first used car location, James C Ramey, Sr has achieved recognition as one of the largest auto dealers in southwestern Virginia and southern West Virginia. What started as a used car lot and then a one franchise dealership has become a conglomerate of 8 new car locations with 13 franchises and 3 used car only locations in three states; VA, WV, and TN. At one time the Ramey dealerships were listed in the top 5 dealerships in used car sales in the United States. The Ramey dealerships have received multiple awards within their regions and continue to strive to be number one in service, selection and price. They have adopted the slogan, “We Do the Deal,” and that continues to be not only a slogan, but a promise to do everything possible to do right by every customer.

James C Ramey, Sr., still a resident of Tazewell County, VA, now works closely with his son, James C Ramey, Jr, “Jimmy” and operates his dealerships from the centrally located Chrysler Jeep Dodge dealership in Princeton, WV.