Hartsville, SC –  They are recognized as being ‘The Best of the Best”, “Leaders”, “Visionaries” - and they are named this year’s “General Motors Dealer of the Year” award winners. John H. Newsome Jr. , Owner and Dealer Principal of John Newsome’s All American Showcase in Hartsville, has been selected as one of the 2006 “GM Dealer of the Year” winners from more than 7,000 GM Dealers across the country, the largest dealer network in the nation. He is one of only four dealers recognized for excellence in Service and Parts Operations. 115 Dealers nationwide earned this prestigious award, based on their continued dedication to sales excellence, customer satisfaction and community involvement. Newsome was presented with the Jack Smith Leadership Award by GM senior executives in New York City this summer.

    

      “The leadership award received by our very best dealer partners recognizes their superior performance and innovative leadership.” said Rick Wagoner, GM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We thank them for their extraordinary contributions to our business, and their dedication to our customer and communities.” Wagoner along with GM Vice Chairman and CFO Fritz Henderson presented the award to John Newsome at a gala event held at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York in June.

    

     “It is a true honor for me, my family, and all of my employees to be recognized with this award.” said Newsome. “We strive to provide quality service to our customers and our community. This is an indication that we are on the right track.”  Among his many community involvements, John Newsome ,Jr. is a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow and a past member of the Board of Trustees for Coker College in Hartsville.

    

     The 2006 Jack Smith Leadership Award is named after Jack Smith, retired GM chairman and CEO and founder of the honorary program. The award is a beautifully crafted Steuben crystal obelisk, which symbolizes the ultimate dealer achievement at General Motors.

    

     John Newsome, Jr. is the second generation Dealer Principal, leading a company that was founded 45 years ago in Hartsville SC. Operating under the inclusive banner “John Newsome’s All American Showcase” Newsome’s GM Superstore is located at 1510 South 5^th Street in Hartsville and sells GM brands Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and Pontiac. A second domestic manufacturer franchise, Action Ford Mercury, was acquired in January of 1991 and recently relocated to its present site at 1500 South 5^th St., adjacent to the GM Superstore . The Service and Parts and Operations – John Newsome GM Parts Distribution – was acquired in 2005 and relocated to a reclaimed large retail space at 1111 South 5^th Street. Together, these businesses employ about 75 people in Hartsville.     

     General Motors Corp (NYSE: GM), the world’s largest automaker, has been the annual global industry sales leader for 76 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 280,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. More information on GM can be found online at www.GM.com .