Robert Utley, affectionately known as Buddy, was a respected heavy equipment mechanic well known in Jackson, TN, for tractor repair. 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 the cotton fields to support his growing family while also repairing cars on the side. As he got older, his interest in mechanics grew, and he was hired as a heavy equipment mechanic at Murphy Tractor in the early 1970s. He later worked for Lisle Brothers & Son, who invested in furthering his education in heavy equipment maintenance.
Buddy mastered clever techniques for solving engine problems and passed this 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" in Buddy's Auto serves as a memorial to the enduring legacy of Robert Utley (1936-1994).
