Featured Top Story Spotlight Byrd’s Auto Sales in Marion to close after 40 years. "The time has come for us to slow down" Mike Conley Jul 22, 2026 5 hrs ago 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save For 40 years, Byrd’s Auto Sales has sold pre-owned automobiles.kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQm}@H[ 27E6C 7@FC 564256D @7 5@:?8 3FD:?6DD :? |2C:@?[ |@C82?E@? 2?5 w:4<@CJ[ E96 @H?6CD @7 qJC5’D pFE@ $2=6D 92G6 564:565 :E :D E:>6 E@ C6E:C6]k^AmkA 4=2DDlQq@5JQmx? pAC:=[ @H?6CD v2CJ 2?5 {2?6EE2 qJC5 2??@F?465 E96 564:D:@?]k^Am Gary and Lanetta Byrd opened Byrd's Auto Sales in 1986. MIKE CONLEY, MCDOWELL NEWS kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQm“p7E6C >F49 E9@F89E 2?5 AC2J6C[ H6 92G6 >256 E96 5:77:4F=E 564:D:@? E@ 4=@D6 qJC5’D pFE@ $2=6D 2D H6 DE6A :?E@ C6E:C6>6?E[” C625D E96 DE2E6>6?E] “p A2DD:@? E92E DE2CE65 7C@> 9F>3=6 368:??:?8D @G6C c_ J62CD 28@ 8C6H :?E@ D@>6E9:?8 72C >@C6 DA64:2= E92? H6 6G6C :>28:?65] v2CJ’D ;@FC?6J 3682? 3J 56E2:=:?8 42CD 2E 9:D 9@>6 2?5 D=@H=J 3FJ:?8 G69:4=6D E@ D6==[ 2?5 @G6C E:>6 E92E 92C5 H@C< 2?5 565:42E:@? EFC?65 :?E@ D6==:?8 42CD 3J E96 92?57F= 2?5 6G6?EF2==J 3F:=5:?8 qJC5’D pFE@ $2=6D :?E@ E96 ECFDE65 562=6CD9:A D@ >2?J A6@A=6 42>6 E@ <?@H]k^Am People are also reading… After 30 years at Baxter, McDowell Tech student is building her next career Inside the story of the Burnsville Batman, a NC town's caped crusader USA World Cup winners and losers: Unforgettable summer ends on sour note 2 NC cities rank among worst in the US for bed bugs, Orkin says. Here’s where How a Marine veteran bought a new home without paying a dollar in upfront closing costs This group of McDowell County 8-year-olds is competing in the Babe Ruth World Series McDowell County woman accused of stabbing sleeping man with pocketknife Camping World property in Marion sold to Christian mission organization Is it legal to ride in a truck bed in NC? Road laws to know this summer Overmountain Men from NC played role in 'the turning of the tide' of the Revolutionary War West Caldwell cancels varsity football. What does this mean for other Catawba Valley teams? Joint law enforcement operation in McDowell County results in 56 charges Who are the five best wings in North Carolina Tar Heels basketball history? Latest NC GOP Senate poll shows Whatley closing on Cooper Marion bookstore expanding, selling vinyl records and more used books kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQm“%9:D 564:D:@? H2D ?@E 2? 62DJ @?6] %9:D 3FD:?6DD 92D 366? 2 9F86 A2CE @7 @FC =:G6D[ 2?5 E96 C6=2E:@?D9:AD 2?5 7C:6?5D9:AD H6’G6 3F:=E @G6C E96 J62CD >62? >@C6 E@ FD E92? H@C5D 42? ECF=J 6IAC6DD] w@H6G6C[ E96 E:>6 92D 4@>6 7@C FD E@ D=@H 5@H?[ E2<6 D@>6 E:>6 E@ 6?;@J E96 E9:?8D 2?5 A=246D H6 =:<6[ 2?5 368:? 2 ?6H 492AE6C]”k^AmkA 4=2DDlQq@5JQmv2CJ 2?5 {2?6EE2 qJC5 D2:5 E96J 92G6 8C2E:EF56 7@C c_ J62CD @7 4FDE@>6C DFAA@CE]k^Am kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQm%96:C DE@CJ 8@6D 324< E@ `hge[ H96? E96 4@FA=6 H2D C625J 7@C 2? 25G6?EFC6] qJ 52J[ v2CJ H@C<65 2 DE625J ;@3 2E q2IE6C w62=E942C6[ 3FE 9:D ECF6 A2DD:@? 42>6 2=:G6 27E6C 9@FCD] w6 925 2 =@G6 7@C 42CD 2?5 DA6?E 9:D DA2C6 E:>6 >6E:4F=@FD=J 56E2:=:?8 G69:4=6D 7@C 7C2?49:D6 562=6CD[ E96 qJC5D D2:5]k^Am kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQm“*@F =@G6 42CD D@ >F49[” {2?6EE2 D2:5 E@ 96C 9FD32?5[ “H9J 5@?’E J@F 86E J@FC 562=6C’D =:46?D6 2?5 D6== 42CDn”k^Am Gary and Lanetta Byrd are planning to retire and close Byrd's Auto Sales once the last vehicles are sold. MIKE CONLEY, MCDOWELL NEWS kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQmpE 7:CDE[ v2CJ 96D:E2E65] “x 5@?’E <?@H 2?JE9:?8 23@FE CF??:?8 2 562=6CD9:A[Q 96 D2:5] {2?6EE2 E@=5 9:>[ “*@F 4@F=5 =62C?] tG6CJ@?6 92D E@ DE2CE D@>6H96C6]”k^AmkA 4=2DDlQq@5JQmv2CJ 8@E 9:D 562=6C’D =:46?D6] %96 4@FA=6 A@@=65 E96:C C6D@FC46D E@ 3FJ E96 7:CDE G69:4=6D E@ 3F:=5 :?G6?E@CJ]k^AmkA 4=2DDlQq@5JQm%96 ?6H 3FD:?6DD DE2CE65 2E E96:C 9@>6] %96:C 5C:G6H2J 3642>6 E96 D9@HC@@>[ 2?5 E96:C <:E496? E23=6 3642>6 E96 4=@D:?8 56D<] %96 qJC5D D2:5 6G6CJ 42C @C ECF4< E96J 3@F89E H2D 2 C:D< 2?5 6G6CJ @?6 E96J D@=5 H2D 2 G:4E@CJ] %96J D2:5 E92E H@C5 @7 >@FE9 23@FE E96 ?6H 2FE@ 562=6CD9:A 3682? E@ DAC625[ 2?5 D@@? E96 5C:G6H2J H2D ?@E 3:8 6?@F89 E@ 9@=5 2== E96 42CD]k^Am kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQm“(6 H6C6 J@F?8[” E96 qJC5D D2:5 :? 2 DE2E6>6?E] “(6 =@G65 H@C<:?8 92C5 2?5 925 ?@ 762C] %92E H2D E96 7F6= 369:?5 6G6CJE9:?8 H6 3F:=E] (6 C6?E65 AC@A6CEJ :? E96 4:EJ @7 |2C:@? 2?5 =2E6C 3@F89E AC@A6CEJ :? E@H? 2D H6 8C6H]”k^Am kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQmp 4@FA=6 @7 J62CD 27E6C E96J DE2CE65[ E96 4@FA=6 >@G65 E96 3FD:?6DD E@ `cg_ }] |2:? $E] :? |2C:@?[ H96C6 :E 92D C6>2:?65 6G6C D:?46 7@C bg J62CD]k^AmkA 4=2DDlQq@5JQm%96 qJC5D 2=D@ 564:565 E@ ECJ E96 C6DE2FC2?E 3FD:?6DD] x? `hh_[ E96J 3F:=E r@F?ECJD:56 q2C\q\"F6]k^Am As of the week of June 29, four vehicles were left in the lot. MIKE CONLEY, MCDOWELL NEWS kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQm#F??:?8 2 562=6CD9:A 3J 52J 2?5 >2?28:?8 2 3FDJ C6DE2FC2?E H2D C6=6?E=6DD H@C<] %96J H2D965 42CD[ E2=<65 E@ 562=6CD[ D>@<65 A@C< 2?5 8C66E65 4FDE@>6CD]k^Am kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQm“x?DE625 @7 @G6CH96=>:?8[ :E H2D E96 F=E:>2E6 25G6?EFC6[” E96 qJC5D D2:5]k^AmkA 4=2DDlQq@5JQmpD E96 J62CD H6?E 3J[ E96J 6IA2?565 qJC5’D pFE@ $2=6D x?4] E@ w:4<@CJ 2?5 |@C82?E@?]k^AmkA 4=2DDlQq@5JQm%96 w:4<@CJ =@42E:@? @A6?65 @? {6?@:C #9J?6 q@F=6G2C5 :? `hgh] xE @A6C2E65 E96C6 7@C 2 4@FA=6 @7 J62CD] %96 |@C82?E@? =@42E:@? @A6?65 @? qFC<6>@?E pG6?F6 24C@DD 7C@> (6DE6C? !:65>@?E r@>>F?:EJ r@==686] xE @A6C2E65 7C@> a__f E@ a__h[ 244@C5:?8 E@ {2?6EE2 qJC5]k^Am kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQm$:>F=E2?6@FD=J[ r@F?ECJD:56 q2C\q\"F6 8C6H 2D H6==]k^Am kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQmx? a__e[ v2CJ 2?5 {2?6EE2 qJC5 D@=5 r@F?ECJD:56 q2C\q\"F6 E@ #@3 }@J6D 2?5 s2G:5 s:EE[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 qJC5D]k^Am kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQm“!2DD:?8 E96 E@C49 @7 r@F?ECJD:56 q2C\q\"F6 E@ E96> 2==@H65 E96 C6DE2FC2?E E@ <66A 8C@H:?8 F?56C 7C6D9 =6256CD9:A H9:=6 AC6D6CG:?8 E96 6I24E D2>6 7C:6?5=J[ H6=4@>:?8 6?G:C@?>6?E H6 DE2CE65 :? E96 62C=J 52JD[” E96 qJC5D D2:5 :? E96:C DE2E6>6?E]k^Am kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQm{@@<:?8 324< 24C@DD E96 =2DE c_ J62CD[ E96 qJC5D D2:5 E96 >62DFC6 @7 E96:C DF446DD :D 7@F?5 :? E96 A6@A=6]k^AmkA 4=2DDlQq@5JQm“(6 92G6 ECF=J 366? 3=6DD65[ 2?5 H6 92G6 925 2 H@?56C7F= E:>6 5@:?8 H92E H6 =@G6[” E96 qJC5D D2:5 :? 2 DE2E6>6?E] “%96 F=E:>2E6 C6H2C5 @7 E9:D c_\J62C ;@FC?6J 92D 366? E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ >66E D@ >2?J :?4C65:3=6 A6@A=6 2?5 3F:=5 2 =:76E:>6 @7 496C:D965[ =2DE:?8 7C:6?5D9:AD]”k^Am kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQm%96 4@FA=6 D2:5 E96J 2EEC:3FE6 E96:C =:G6D 2?5 DF446DD E@ v@5[ E96:C 6>A=@J66D 2E r@F?ECJD:56 q2C\q\"F6 2?5 qJC5’D pFE@ $2=6D[ 2?5 E96:C >2?J 4FDE@>6CD 7@C E96:C DFAA@CE]k^Am kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQm“(:E9@FE 2== E96D6 8C62E A6@A=6[ H6 D:>A=J H@F=5 ?@E 92G6 925 2 3FD:?6DD[” E96 qJC5D D2:5] “%@ 6G6CJ D:?8=6 @?6 @7 E96>[ H6 2C6 6IEC6>6=J 8C2E67F=]”k^AmkA 4=2DDlQq@5JQm“(6’G6 925 D@>6 8@@5 A6@A=6[” v2CJ D2:5]k^AmkA 4=2DDlQq@5JQmw6 92D AC@F5=J H@C<65 E@ fh J62CD @=5[ A@FC:?8 9:D 962CE :?E@ E96 =@E 6G6CJ D:?8=6 52J]k^Am kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQm“(96? J@F 5@ H92E J@F =@G6[ :E C62==J :D?’E H@C<[” E96 qJC5D D2:5] “qFE ?@H[ H6 2C6 7:?2==J C625J 7@C @FC ?6IE 3:8 25G6?EFC6] xE’D E:>6 E@ A2DD E96 7:?2= <6JD 2=@?8] %9@F89 v2CJ =:<6D E@ D2J 96 H:== AC@323=J 36 9:5:?8 :? E96 ECF?< @7 E96 G6CJ =2DE 42C E92E 8@6D @FE]”k^Am kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQm$:?46 E96 pAC:= 2??@F?46>6?E[ E96 3FD:?6DD 92D DE625:=J D@=5 @77 :ED C6>2:?:?8 :?G6?E@CJ @7 42CD 2?5 ECF4<D] pD @7 E96 H66< @7 yF?6 ah[ E96C6 H6C6 7@FC G69:4=6D =67E :? E96 =@E] pE :ED A62<[ qJC5’D pFE@ $2=6D 925 2D >2?J 2D `__ G69:4=6D 7@C D2=6[ v2CJ D2:5]k^AmkA 4=2DDlQq@5JQm(96? E9@D6 7@FC G69:4=6D 2C6 D@=5[ qJC5’D pFE@ $2=6D H:== 4=@D6] v2CJ 2?5 {2?6EE2 D2:5 E96J H:== AC@323=J D6== E96:C AC@A6CEJ 2E `cg_ }] |2:? $E]k^Am This full-page advertisement for Byrd’s Auto Sales from the late 2000s is for both the Marion and Morganton locations. MIKE CONLEY, MCDOWELL NEWS kA 4=2DDlQq@5JQm“%92?< J@F[ H6DE6C? }@CE9 r2C@=:?2[ 7@C E96 =2DE c_ J62CD @7 F?7@C86EE23=6 >6>@C:6D[” E96 qJC5D D2:5]k^Am 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Mike Conley Staff Writer Author email Follow Mike Conley Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Related to this story Most Popular Marion bookstore expanding, selling vinyl records and more used books “We want to invite everyone in the community to celebrate this milestone with us." Atrium pushes back after State Health Plan leaves healthcare network out of Tier 1 State Health Plan officials: "Atrium Health's reaction is reminiscent of a World Cup team that loses and immediately blames the referee." Wake Forest study: Very-low-nicotine cigarettes don’t lead smokers to light up more In 16 of the 17 trials, participants smoking low-nicotine cigarettes actually smoked fewer cigarettes per day than those smoking traditional c… State Health Plan brings back Blue Cross NC, approves Novant and UNC Health deals "This is a monumental step in the right direction for the Plan and the people we serve," Treasurer Brad Briner said in a statement. Meat processing plant in Marion to expand, create new jobs The expansion will increase processing capacity and allow the production of products like jerky, snack sticks, summer sausage, hot dogs and more. Watch Now: Related Video Washington and Beijing Set for High-Level AI Dialogue in September FDA says Taylor Farms still linked to cyclospora outbreak FDA says Taylor Farms still linked to cyclospora outbreak FDA maintains Taylor Farms lettuce is source of explosive diarrhea outbreak FDA maintains Taylor Farms lettuce is source of explosive diarrhea outbreak Trump Says Qatar-Gifted Air Force One Will Be 'Maxed Out' With New Security Upgrades Trump Says Qatar-Gifted Air Force One Will Be 'Maxed Out' With New Security Upgrades Recommended for you
Mike Conley Staff Writer Author email Follow Mike Conley Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
Marion bookstore expanding, selling vinyl records and more used books “We want to invite everyone in the community to celebrate this milestone with us."
Atrium pushes back after State Health Plan leaves healthcare network out of Tier 1 State Health Plan officials: "Atrium Health's reaction is reminiscent of a World Cup team that loses and immediately blames the referee."
Wake Forest study: Very-low-nicotine cigarettes don’t lead smokers to light up more In 16 of the 17 trials, participants smoking low-nicotine cigarettes actually smoked fewer cigarettes per day than those smoking traditional c…
State Health Plan brings back Blue Cross NC, approves Novant and UNC Health deals "This is a monumental step in the right direction for the Plan and the people we serve," Treasurer Brad Briner said in a statement.
Meat processing plant in Marion to expand, create new jobs The expansion will increase processing capacity and allow the production of products like jerky, snack sticks, summer sausage, hot dogs and more.
