Why we're called Buddy's Auto.

Robert Utley, affectionately known as Buddy, was a heavy equipment mechanic in Jackson, Tennessee. Born in 1936, he learned basic mechanic skills from his uncle, Brownie Roberts, which sparked his interest in automotive repair.

As a young man, Buddy worked in cotton fields to support his growing family while repairing cars on the side. His interest in mechanics continued to grow, and in the early 1970s he was hired as a heavy equipment mechanic at Murphy Tractor. He later worked for Lisle Brothers & Son, who invested in furthering his education in heavy equipment maintenance.

Buddy passed his expertise, along with his tools, to his son, Michael Utley. Today, his grandson, Robert Utley—better known as Mickey—uses the very tools his grandfather once did. The name Buddy's Auto serves as a memorial to that legacy.