Joe Thigpen known for his smile, salesmanship

FLORENCE - Gene Crump said he never saw Joe Thigpen when he wasn't smiling.

"It didn't matter what, he was always smiling, and he was always doing things in a big way," said Crump about Thigpen, who worked for him at his car dealership for years. "He was a great guy."

Thigpen was a well known car salesman and retired as co-owner of Florence Hyundai. He died Wednesday after an extended illness. He was 60.

"Joe was a very outgoing, very giving person," said Thigpen's older brother, Richard. "He didn't act like he was 60; he was always very active.

"He loved working with the public and was always there to help the customer."

Richard Thigpen said his brother got into the car business after selling insurance.

"I had GT Auto Sales (in the early 1970s) and Joe was selling insurance and I asked him to help me one Saturday. After that day he said he liked it and he kept at it," Richard Thigpen said.

Reger Curry, a salesman at Jerry Damson Nissan, worked with Thigpen for several years in the car business. He described Thigpen as having "as good of people skills as anyone" he has every met.

"He was a natural at selling cars," Curry said. "He loved to work with people, and he treated them all the same. He could get on any level and make you feel comfortable, whether you make $1,500 a month or $15,000 a month."

Curry and Thigpen both played football at the University of North Alabama, both as defensive backs.

Thigpen still holds a record for interceptions in a single game.

"We traveled a similar path in a way to get into the car business," Curry said. "I worked with Joe for more than seven years and we became good friends. It made me sad when I got the news of his death. We lost a good guy and a friend."

Richard Thigpen said he and his brother were 18-months apart in age.

"We were always close," Thigpen said. "We went to high school together (at Coffee High), played (high school) football together and we ended up working together. We were best friends, and I'm going to miss him."

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.