FRUITLAND MAN PURCHASES PERRYVILLE KEELE DEALERSHIP

PERRYVILLE -- Ronald McDowell of Fruitland has purchased Keele Pontiac-Buick-Ford at Perryville.

McDowell, who was owner of Brugger-McDowell Motors at Jackson, has also moved his Jackson operation to the new dealership just off Interstate 55.

"We have more than 40 used cars to go along with our new-car inventory," said McDowell, who purchased the dealership from Billy Keele, who was principal owner of Keele Motors in Cape Girardeau before taking over the dealership at Perryville in 1987.

Steve Ballard, who has more than six years experience in the auto industry, has been named general manager of the operation, which will be known as McDowell Ford-Pontiac-Buick.

Ballard previously worked at Charleston, where he has served in management of two dealerships.

"We have a good inventory of new and used cars here," said Ballard. "And we're getting in more cars every day."

Other new employees at the dealership include David Foushee of Cape Girardeau, business manager; Dennis Brown of Perryville, parts department manager; and Mike Hayden of Jackson and Greg Ballard, salesmen.