Vern Woyner was specified the Standing Tall Award by Lyons Mayor Christopher Getty in recognition of his 47 many years in city repairing vehicles.
By Steve Metsch
If you have lived in or close to Lyons the past 47 many years and desired your automobile fixed, there is a excellent probability you know Vern Woyner.
Woyner, 70, has been repairing cars in Lyons given that 1977.
His longevity of professional company has attained him the highest award offered by the village.
At the April 16 village board meeting, Lyons Mayor Christopher Getty introduced Woyner with the Standing Tall Award, a wooden reproduction of the Lyons drinking water tower.
Two days later on, when a reporter frequented Vern’s Vehicle Service, 8644 W. Ogden Ave., the award was sitting down atop the desk the place Woyner has published hundreds of perform orders.
“I was not expecting it. The previous time I talked with (the mayor) was in his business, inquiring about having a allow for the roof. He claimed, ‘Your title was talked about at the last meeting.’ I was, ‘Okay, now what did I do completely wrong?’ He reported, ‘No, it’s anything authentic good’.”
Vern’s Auto Services has been at its present-day place for 22 many years. He likes the commute as he life on the 2nd flooring. Prior to this, his shop was across the avenue at 8629 W. Ogden for 5 many years.
Just before that, Woyner labored as a mechanic at the former Amoco company station at To start with and Ogden avenues for 20 a long time setting up in 1977. A Wendy’s is there now.
Becoming a vehicle mechanic has appealed to him “since I was a child.”
“My brother’s a mechanic. My father was a mechanic. I have nephews who were being mechanics. And I have two sons that are mechanics. It’s a loved ones tree,” he explained.
As an example, one particular son, Justin, performs at the store with Woyner. Another son, Phil, functions there aspect time.
“That’s the only point we understood so we just did it,” Woyner stated of his career.
He enjoys the obstacle of aiding consumers who occur in with a range of troubles: “You do some thing for any individual. You determine it out and you make it work.”
The enterprise has altered. These days, utilised motor oil, tires, steel and antifreeze are recycled.
“Nothing goes to squander any additional. It is good for the natural environment,” he said.
He noticed the pandemic gradual his enterprise. “But right after that broke open, we got genuinely fast paced because persons are retaining their automobiles.”
Pandemic-associated delays in the source chain have repairs that utilized to choose two or a few times from time to time ready a week or two. Some shoppers wrestle with that, but most understand.
“Getting parts for some of the more mature autos, specific yrs it is okay, but late product components? It’s 50/50. We have bought to buy, if it’s not in stock,” he reported.
“I only inventory filters, oil, antifreeze, wipers, batteries, primary stuff. NAPA (Automobile Components) is suitable across the road. Or I’ll deal with O’Reilly (Automobile Sections). I have obtained 5 distinct sources now,” Woyner explained.
Immediately after Woyner acquired his award, the mayor’s brother, Ken Getty Jr., recalled as a college college student currently being “obsessed with an Oldsmobile Aurora.”
“I informed Chris this is the car or truck I want. He advisable having the car to Vern. … Vern proceeded to pick apart all the issues that had been incorrect, forecast what would go wrong, and advised me in a stern Vern way to not obtain the motor vehicle,” Getty Jr., stated.
Woyner smiled at the memory.
“Those issues are junks. Authentic poor design and style. Leaking oil. My nephew experienced a single and I was normally performing on it. I told Ken, ‘No, do not buy that’,” Woyner reported.
Questioned for suggestions to car consumers, Woyner claimed: “Stay away from Korean automobiles. Nissan, much too. They are bad quality. I recommend Toyota, Honda.
“My daughter has a 1999 Toyota Camry with (additional than) 200,000 miles. Starts just about every working day. I’m a GM man. A new truck I bought past tumble and a black Impala,” he said.
At the board conference, Getty spoke highly of Woyner calling him “dedicated to our local community, supporting neighbors.”
“He’s a go-to man. His term is his bond,” Getty stated.
Getty recalled the day two police automobiles needed repairs and “of class, our mechanic was not operating (that working day).”
“We known as Vern. He stated, ‘I have a automobile on the rack. I’m likely to pull it off. Convey those police vehicles here now’,” Getty mentioned. “And I do not consider we ever bought a bill from Vern.”
Randy Holtz formerly was a tow truck driver who worked with Woyner.
“He’s been my mechanic for 47 several years. He’s a excellent mechanic simply because he’s truthful and he’s honest. He doesn’t do nearly anything without having an alright.
“And he’s good. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have caught all around with him for so extensive,” Holtz said.
Getty joked that Woyner ought to retain repairing autos yet another a few a long time so he can hit 50 several years in Lyons.
“I don’t know. I want to do a minimal additional traveling, a very little far more fishing,” mentioned Woyner, who owns a boat docked downtown and enjoys weekends fishing on Lake Michigan.