Dwight Ghent

Dwight Ghent was born in Craig, Colorado in 1922, after which his family moved to Fort Collins. At age 16, Dwight joined the Colorado National Guard, but was too young to be deployed. He enrolled at Colorado State University for one year before enlisting to serve in World War II.

After the war, he attended the University of Colorado and received a degree in business. In recognition of his war service, Dwight received many honors, including Northern Colorado Veterans of Foreign Wars Statue, Air Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, American Service Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge and the World War II Victory Medal.

During the war, Dwight gained an understanding and passion for the automobile industry. In high school, he was a part-time employee of Chol-Ghent Motors in Ft. Collins. After his military service and graduation from college, he became a salesman with the dealership, working his way up to president.
The company was renamed The Ghent Motor Company in 1945 and continued to operate for 52 years. In 1966, the dealership relocated to south Ft. Collins where the facilities were “designed not only for interior and exterior beauty, but to provide the ultimate in automotive service.”

Dwight had many professional accomplishments, including director of First National Bank in Ft. Collins, chairman of The United Way and director of the Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce.

He held all the board of director leadership positions for the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) from 1966 to 1971 and was president of the Fort Collins Automobile Dealers Association. While president of CADA, he was instrumental in passing legislation to license all automobile dealers and salesman to better serve the public. He was also very involved in his community as a member and director of various Ft. Collins organizations. He received the TIME Magazine National Automobile Quality Dealer of the Year for Colorado in 1980.

He packed so much life into his 97 years. Dwight was a diligent husband and father, acute businessman, respected community leader and a man of true integrity.