Since 1917, Goode Motor Auto Group has left a lasting impact on Southern Idaho. For over a century, car buyers have turned to Goode Motor for a myriad of reasons, from our extensive inventory to our dependable auto service center. Our Commitment to unmatched customer service and transparency has stood the test of time, earning us a stellar reputation within the communities we serve.
With the recent expansion into Southeast Alaska, Goode Motor Auto Group now operated nine franchised dealerships from five different rooftops in two different states.
We have a long history and wonderful story that we hope you will enjoy!
Did you know that Goode Motor Ford is the oldest Ford dealership in Idaho? That’s right! What is now Goode Motor Ford started as “Jones Read Ford Motor Company” in 1917 when Alonzo Read and his business partner, C.A. Jones, acquired the first Idaho Ford franchise.
About ten years later, Alonzo Read sold his interest in the Jones Read Ford Dealership, and in 1938 the Goode Family purchased that interest and renamed it Goode Motor Ford – the name which is still used today!
In 1978, Garth Williams joined the Goode Motor Ford team as a car salesman. Through dedication and hard work, he steadily climbed the ranks, eventually assuming the role of General Manager in 1984, overseeing day-to-day operations.
Garth Williams became a significant figure in 1993 when he acquired a 49% stake in Goode Motor Ford. This move marked a turning point as he transitioned from managing the dealership to managing it AND becoming one of its owners. By 2000, Goode Ford expanded its influence by acquiring its primary competitor, Young Ford, and relocating its headquarters to the new Burley location.
By 2003, Garth Williams purchased all of Bus Goode’s ownership interest in the dealership that bore his family’s name. Although the Goode Family has not owned an interest in Goode Motor since then, the name “Goode Motor” was retained because of the long history and the great reputation earned/associated with the name Goode Motor. As part of that buyout, Garth’s long-time corporate controller, Russell Bair, became Garth’s partner when he also purchased an interest in the dealership.
In 1994, Matt Cook married Garth William’s daughter, Trista. When Matt and Trista were dating, Matt had no idea that he had any ties to Southern Idaho (much less Burley), since he was raised in Texas. However, during their courtship, Matt discovered that his great-grandpa once lived in the Burley area and had married a woman from Oakley (Lucy Robinson). Then, to his total surprise, he also learned that his great grandpa was Alonzo Read, the founder of the original Ford dealership in Rupert — the very same dealership now owned and managed by Matt’s new father-in-law!
Matt graduated from BYU Law School and practiced corporate/transactional law in Houston, Texas for eight years. Matt’s entrepreneurial spirit drove him to make a drastic change and move to Burley to learn the car business. Napoleon Bonaparte said, “There is no such thing as accident; it is fate misnamed.” So, as fate would have it, in 2006, Matt returned to his ancestral roots of Southern Idaho to learn the business founded by his great grandpa, Alonzo Read.
Matt’s aspiration to grow Goode Motor materialized in 2011 when the company made its first expansion beyond Burley. Goode Motor acquire the Ford dealership in Hailey, Idaho and renamed Silver Creek Ford. In 2013, the portfolio expanded further with the purchase of Volkswagen/Mazda dealerships in Twin Falls, now known as Twin Falls Volkswagen and Goode Motor Mazda. The following year, Goode Motor ventured into Hailey, Idaho once again by acquiring the Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram store. However, by 2021, both Hailey dealerships were sold, concluding Goode Motor’s presence in the Wood River Valley.
Significant changes occurred in 2016: After leading the company for decades, Garth Williams retired from the car business, turning the reins of the company over to Matt Cook who became the CEO and Dealer Principal of Goode Motor.
2016 not only marked the retirement of Garth Williams but also the addition of new family members to partners in the business. Garth’s son, Brandon Williams, joined the company after a successful business career in Utah. Brandon grew up in Burley and upon graduating from college founded a successful internet/software company based in Utah. He sold that business and returned home to become a partner and manager at Goode Motor.
In addition, Garth’s other son-in-law, Pablo Silvaz, became a partner in Goode Motor. Pablo joined Goode Motor in 2007 after graduating from Idaho State University. Pablo had worked in all parts of the dealership, including vehicle sales, service/parts operations, and human resource management. Today Pablo is the Vice President and HR Director at Goode Motor.
2017 marked the 100-year anniversary of the founding of Jones-Read Ford and to celebrate, we decided to build a new, modern Ford dealership. Goode Motor Ford is the flagship store of the Goode Motor Auto Group, and the new facility also serves as our corporate headquarters. This modern building provides all the comforts our customers demand in a new dealership!
Goode Motor made a considerable investment in Twin Falls by totally renovating the building and property at its Twin Falls Volkswagen dealership. Starting in 2020, much of the facility was torn down and replaced with a brand new, beautiful building. With this new facility, Twin Falls Volkswagen became the newest and grandest dealership facility located on Blue Lakes Blvd!
For many years, Goode Motor Mazda and Twin Falls Volkswagen shared the same facility located on Blue Lakes Blvd. Because Mazda began making fresh and exciting vehicles, Goode Motor decided to make a considerable investment in the Mazda brand by separating the facility from the Volkswagen dealership.
After a long Construction period (during COVID), Goode Motor Mazda opened its doors to a new facility on the corner of Kimberly Road and Eastland Drive in Twin Falls. This gorgeous 6-acre facility is a state-of-the-art auto dealership that houses not only brand-new Mazda vehicles but hundreds of used cars, trucks, and SUV’s.
Since its inception, Goode Motor Auto Group has operated exclusively from dealerships located in Idaho. That all changed in 2023 when Goode Motor acquired its first dealerships outside of Idaho. But Goode Motor did not go small…no we went far away by buying six dealerships located in beautiful Juneau, Alaska.
Now, Goode Motor Auto Group includes Juneau Toyota; Juneau Subaru; Juneau Honda; Juneau Chevrolet; Juneau Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram; and Juneau Honda Powersports. Together these six dealerships make up the “Juneau Auto Mall.”
In 2024, Goode Motor Ford reached an exciting milestone as Matt Cook was honored as the TIME Dealer of the Yearfor his region. This prestigious award is a testament to his exceptional leadership, commitment to excellence, and dedication to both his dealership and community. Matt’s passion for doing things the right way has not only driven Goode Motor Ford’s success but has also made a meaningful impact beyond the showroom. His recognition reflects the values that define our company-integrity, service, and community involvement-as we continue our mission to provide top-tier experiences for our customers and support the people around us.
Goode Ford – 1096 E. Main Street Burley, ID – (208) 203-5446
Goode Mazda – 2285 Kimberly Road Twin Falls, ID – (208) 875-5265
Goode Volkswagen – 1534 Blue Lakes Boulevard Twin Falls, ID – (208) 875-5265
Juneau Honda – 8602 Teal Street Juneau, AK – (208) 848-4886
Juneau Toyota – 8602 Teal St Juneau, AK – (208) 943-7213
Juneau Chevrolet – 8602 Teal Street Juneau, AK – (208) 845-6949
Juneau Subaru – 8725 Mallard St Juneau, AK – 855-408-5910
Juneau Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram – 8725 Mallard St Juneau, AK – 208-844-4595
Visit any of our 3 dealerships
