Our Story
Marie Gay and her husband Carl started their career together in the early 1940s. They began traveling the country with their magazine business and brought their crew of salespeople along to help. After returning to the Dickinson, Texas area in 1948, Marie and Carl created Gay Pontiac on Highway 3. In the 1960s, they moved the store's location to the newly built Gulf Freeway where their business began to flourish. During the entire 70 years that the store has been in operation, it has received numerous awards for setting sales records, including the prestigious General Motors Master Dealer Award. Gay Pontiac was one of only five dealerships nationwide to receive this honor 25 years in a row.
Marie was, in fact, one of the first female dealers to be recognized by General Motors. Car buyers enjoyed Marie's welcoming greeting on the showroom floor and her dedication to making sure their experience was excellent. Because she was on site every day, she could keep a watchful eye on her customers and be available if they ever needed her. She commanded the respect of her employees by being tough, but also caring and approachable. The car business was her life and that meant her customers and employees always came first. Marie was always selling cars. Even into her last years, she was selling to nurses and doctors who supervised her care in the hospital.
Marie and Carl also operated Houston International Raceway on the Gulf Freeway in the 1960s, which began their lifelong passion for drag racing. Later, they became part owners in Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas. Their sons and grandsons all went on to continue the rich racing tradition of the Gay family, and are still well known in the Houston metro area today because of their racing history.
Marie had a zest for life that was uncanny, and she passed that attitude on to all those around her. She loved to travel the world with her family and friends, and was particularly fond of her Las Vegas and Italy trips. Marie and Carl also loved football and were probably the biggest fans of the Houston Oilers. They rarely missed an Oilers home game in the Astrodome, and they frequently traveled to away games with the team.
Mrs. Marie Gay passed away on March 10, 2016 at the age of 95, but her legacy will live on with everyone that she touched. She was an excellent role model for other women interested in owning their own business, and she helped supply the vital need of vehicle transportation and service to the Dickinson and Houston area communities. In fact, it is still possible today to see thousands of cars around the metro area that bear the Gay nameplate. She also built a great place to work that has allowed hundreds of her employees to provide for their families over the last 68 years. Marie Gay is greatly loved, and she will be dearly missed by her family, friends, and employees.
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This week on Clear Lake Connections Podcast presented by UTMB Health: Meet Kevin Lardie, General Manager, Gay Family Kia, Gay Family Auto.
In this week’s episode Kevin tells the listeners the rich history of the Gay family and the Clear Lake Area. Kevin talks about the challenges they have faced in the recent years and how they have overcome them. Lastly, Kevin talks about how he got involved in the business and building the culture of his team.
Something very exciting happened today! I worked my tail off to be able to do what I did today. I was finally able to purchase my absolute dream car that I’ve been eyeing for awhile! 🥹
Blake Gilmore thank you for believing in me! I love you so much. You knew I wanted to do this without help and encouraged me along the way.
Gay Family Kia in Dickinson was the best over the last week helping me go home with what I wanted. 10/10 recommend! Pat listened to everything I was requesting and MADE IT HAPPEN! 🙌🏼
Congratulations to my parents Hector & Tisha, because my last thing linked to you guys is gone 🤪
Once again I’m screwed. Drop my car off for a service “appointment” at 7 am. NO WORD ALL DAY LONG. I call at 3:30…I’ll look into it ma’am and get back to you. Nothing, no phone call, no we need to keep your car overnight. so I call at 5:15. Transferred to service, no answer. Call back, our service department has gone home for the day.
So now what? Had I known I was going to be without my car…I could have made arrangements. Is KIA going to pay for my missed work since they couldn’t notify me that I’d be without any means of transportation?? Of course not. I bought my KIA because of all the perks of owning a KIA. I waited two weeks for a service appointment, for warning lights on my dash. And I had to resort to posting on the page to even get a return phone call then. Ugh!!
Meet Wolfie. 🐺 Thanks Gay Family Kia! Steve Cummings, Dave & Pat were a big help with the purchase today! Also shoutout to Stephen Shorkey for not thinking I’m crazy for buying another car, couldn’t pass up getting such a good deal.
We had an amazing Sold-out Spring Fever Golf Classic on Monday at Bay Oaks Country Club bringing together local business leaders to enjoy the fresh air and some friendly competition on the greens. Congratulations to our First Place Team: Mac Haik Toyota, Second Place Team: Waldron & Schneider, and Third Place Team: Greer, Hertz, and Adams. We want to thank all of our sponsors who contributed to this event: Eagle Presenting Sponsor: AMOCO Federal Credit Union, Awards Reception Sponsor: Texan Bank, Birdie Lunch Sponsor: PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company, Helicopter Ball Drop Sponsor: B1 BANK, Hole-In-One Sponsors: Gay Family Kia, Norman Frede Chevrolet and Mac Haik Toyota, Bag Sponsor: Texas First Bank, Dinner Provider: Crazy Alan's Swamp Shack, Lunch Provider: Raising Cane's, Sign Provider: Fastsigns Clear Lake. Without all of you and our fantastic committee and volunteers this event could not have been possible! Thank you to everyone who came out and played.
Buenas Tardes
Me están dejando muy mal sabor de boca con el servicio desde el area de Ventas Sr Dustin y Ricardo hasta el Gerente de Servicio del Área de Kia Brad Coronado tengo más de una semana sin carro por q iban hacer valida una garantía es día y hora q no e tenido respuesta sobre la situación de la entrega de mi carro espero q con esta publicación se porten más amables con la gente que van adquirí un automóvil con ustedes son demasiados groseros
Worst service ever.... My car has been in the shop 5 MONTHS....YES MONTHS....cant get a straight answer or call backs.
Thank you to everyone who came out to the Kemah Boardwalk last night for Epicurean Evening. We had a great turnout!
The food was fantastic, the music was awesome, and the Boardwalk was electric.
Thank you to our food vendors: Aquarium Restaurant - Kemah TX, Bakkhus Taverna, Boardwalk FantaSea, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Cat Scratch Kitchen, Chick-fil-A Kemah, Cool Cow Creamery, Crazy Alan's Swamp Shack, Delicias latina Restaurant, Eduardo's Mexican Kitchen, Gelu Italian Ice, HTeaO Webster, Joe's Crab Shack, La Brisa, Landry's Seafood House, Maggiano's, Monarch Pantry, Niche Catering, Opus Bistro, Opus Ocean Grille, Robinette & Company Caterers, Saltgrass Steak House, The Chopping Block and Flying Dutchman.
Special thanks to our sponsors: Ron Carter Cadillac, Ron Carter Hyundai, Kemah Boardwalk, Faust Distributing, Al Hicks Allstate Insurance, CertaPro Painters of League City, TX, The Pet Palace, Renewal by Andersen of Houston, Visiting Angels, DRDA CPAs, PLLC, Gay Family Kia, Shell Federal Credit Union and Texan Bank.
Big thank you to the Kemah Boardwalk, their staff and all the volunteers for making this event a success!
We want to thank everyone for coming out to our sold-out Spring Fever Golf Classic yesterday! It was a beautiful Chamber of Commerce day filled with sunshine, good fellowship and fun.
Special thanks to our sponsors Texan Bank, Texas Citizens Bank, Crazy Alan's Swamp Shack, PrimeLending - Clear Lake, Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, Gay Family Kia, Mac Haik Toyota, Norman Frede Chevrolet, Ron Carter Cadillac, Texas First Bank, FASTSIGNS of Webster - Clear Lake, Instant Imprints, Faust Distributing, Arlan's Market, Bay Area Elite Properties, Hometown Bank League City, Visiting Angels and Duckworth Insurance, golfers, committee led by J.P. Morris with Texas Citizens Bank and volunteers for making it such a successful event. Also, shout out to Bay Oaks Country Club for hosting us.
Keep a lookout for details on our next HUGE event Epicurean Evening “Bites on the Boardwalk” Thursday May 20th with Rock the Dock!
Great vehicle buying experience. I would recommend to anyone needing a new or used vehicle to shop Gay Kia. They give their used vehicles a good once over, fix things they find broken or need replacing. You won't be buying a piece of junk. Very friendly dealership. This dealership works with you after a sale because they want repeat customers. Customer service is top notch! I have purchased 3 used vehicles and very satisfied with the performance of all of them.😃
Wife and I made an appointment with Austin Demott at 11:00 AM Friday and drove out three hours later with our new used car. We are really happy with the service and car. I have never had a better car purchase experience. Extremely happy.
Billy Rieniets and Austin DeMott, thank you so much for helping my friend get her dream ride. She drove all the way from San Antonio for this beauty and waited a few months to post an honest review!!!
I recommend Rudy Aldape for salesmen of the year as well as advertising and should be doing some commercials for you! He is an outstanding person and deserves the recognition!
We would like to thank Kevin Lardy, General Manager with Gay Family Kia in Dickinson, Texas, for donating masks made by Kia to our ! We appreciate the incredible support we have received from our community.
More 'fun' rolling out of the New York International Auto Show with Kia Motors America announcing the Stinger GTS...from James A. Nelson...
'...The team at Kia came to the New York Auto Show this year eager to showcase their latest version of their highest performing Kia sport sedan – the Stinger GTS.
Just two years in the competitive sport sedan segment, Stinger has captured a serious following of enthusiasts who appreciate its styling, performance and price of a well-crafted sedan loaded with amenities and technologies that enhance the drive experience.
This Special Edition Stinger GTS (only 800 will be produced) features an exclusive bright orange paint color, genuine carbon fibre parts and a new all-wheel drive system with an added Drift Mode and an assortment of enhanced features and amenities...'
Joe Myers Kia
Parkway Family Kia - Houston
Community Kia
Gay Family Kia
Beck & Masten Kia
For even more automotive fun, be sure to join us LIVE! today at 12noon - 2om on ESPN Houston 97.5 FM with video streaming on our page and we will be on the ESPN Houston mobile app.
