Vasko Dodge

This has been the hallmark of the Vasko family for over 45 years. We have seen this business through very good and very bad times. The one thing that has been consistent is our dedication in providing you, our customer, with the very best products and services available in the automotive industry.

This narrative is written from the perspective of the Sons of Steve and Dorothy Vasko. If you know our parents you know that they are a couple that started from very humble beginings. Our father, Steve, while born in this country moved back with his mother to Slovakia when he was two. To escape German aggression the family moved back to America in 1938. Dad was thirteen and didn't speak any english.  He understood the value of his education and studied hard. When he became of age the war was still going on and he took a job in a munitions factory in Christy Park (McKeesport). It was there he met our mother, fell in love, and after his service in the military, married her. Our mother was born and raised within 2 miles of our Canonsburg location. She was the son of a carpenter/coal miner. As a youngster she would carry water from a nearby spring for her family. She lived in a house with no indoor plumbing and walked to a one room schoolhouse until high school.

As a newly married couple all that they had was the promise of opportunity. Dad worked several years with his Father-In-Law, Louis Servais. They did construction work and here is where Dad learned his first trade. Our parents often struggled to make ends meet. It was on such an occasion that changed our parents' life. Mom and Dad had bought a car and when it needed repairs took it to Arnold Motors. Unable to pay the bill, Dad asked Mr. Arnold if he would allow him to work off the balance. Mr. Arnold agreed and was impressed with Dad's work ethic, he then offered Dad a job as a mechanic. Soon Dad was in demand and was considered a quality mechanic. When automatic transmissions came into being it was our father who seized the opportunity and learned them inside and out. After working for a few different dealers Dad had made a name for himself. People would bring him all makes of automatics for him to repair. In those days they weren't as dependable as they are now. 

Dad was now working at Scott Chevrolet which was up for sale. Unsure of his furture with the company Dad & Mom made the decision to open their own gas station and repair garage. Vasko's Hillcrest Texaco. "Don't Cuss, Call Us" was their slogan. Dad worked on cars and Mom did the books. A real mom and pop store. After a few difficult years They decided to buy a service station in Canonsburg from Albert Powel. This is the site of our present location. The year was 1965. The above photo marked the occasion. They did so well that the next year they bought the Atlantic Richfield station next door. Within three years Mom and Dad had decided to take on the Jeep and American Motors franchises. Mom sold the first one on a Sunday while cleaning the offices. We sold three that year. Hopefully we did that today!

Over the years the gas pumps were taken out, and addition upon addition has been added. The brick in the Canonsburg showroom was reclaimed from a house that Dad and Grandpap Servais had built. As a family we cleaned them, stacked them and then learned how to lay them. To date we count over twenty major acquistions, building and remodeling projects.

The facility was not the only thing that was growing. During the late 60's and through the 70's Steve Jr. and John came of age and joined the family business. Pumping gas, repairing cars, selling cars, running the parts and service departments these two did it all. Both distinguished themselves in the United State Air Force Reserve. John retired after 20 years of service with the rank of Master Sergeant, Steve after 28 years with the rank of Senior Master Sergeant. When the early to mid 80's came along it was time for the younger brothers to come aboard. Bob started full time in 1982 and Bill started in 1984 after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh. During this time each of us did his part to learn and grow the business. In 1989 Dad and Mom handed over the reigns to us. This same year Chrysler Corporation bought out Renault's share of AMC and we finally had a solid manufacturer with which to deal with.  Vasko Jeep-Eagle was our business name at this time.

In 1993 the Jeep Grand Cherokee was introduced. It turned the sport utility market on its ear. The Cherokee and Wrangler were as popular as ever. Jeep was the undisputed king of the SUV's. Vehicle sales soared, and the parts and service departments were over utilized and crowded. A year later we undertook the largest remodeling phase in our history. We tore down an old rental house we had, and built a state of the art 5000+ sq ft. service center. All new everything outfitted the shop. The old shop became the parts and service departments with some space becoming additional showroom. Accounting and sales offices were moved into what had been the old parts department. In an 18 month period every employee had moved into a new work space.

With the demise of the Eagle brand and the desire for a realignment of the franchises by DaimlerChrysler; in 1999 we decided to sell our Jeep franchise and acquire the Dodge franchise.  This was a difficult decision.  Jeep was in our blood and had been there all of our lives.  It had always been our dream to have a big league franchise.  The prospect of a full line Dodge dealership on Rt 19 won the day and that’s what we decided to do.

We moved into our present facility on October 31, 2001.  Exactly 40 days after September 11^th.  Some said we were tempting fate.  Others thought it gutsy.  We trusted in providence.  We now had a place at the adult table.  We were still selling one car at a time just more of them.  Dodge is now what we are noted for.   However, we service the full line of Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles.

Post Script:  Sadly in June of 2004 the South Central Ave. building burned to the ground.  The fire was suspicious in nature and broke all of our hearts.  .  Every nook, cranny and corner of that place will live forever in our memories.