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Hampton’s Body Shop Celebrates 50 Years

The good ole boys standing around Hampton's Body Shop at the 50th anniversary celebration.
The good ole boys standing around Hampton’s Body Shop at the 50th anniversary celebration. Photos by Bob Caldwell

By Jesse Wood

April 25, 2014. Hampton’s Body Shop in Boone celebrated its 50th anniversary with a community barbeque lunch on Friday afternoon.

Joyce Hampton, the widow of founder Wayne Hampton was sitting at the entrance to the garage, greeting community members and customers who came to celebrate the anniversary with some good food and camaraderie. One such person walked by Joyce, looked at the barbeque truck, the spread, the cake, the balloons and said, “You went all out for this.”

Joyce just smiled.

That’s the way Wayne, who passed away in February at the age of 76, just weeks before the 50th anniversary, would have wanted it.

“He talked about it before he passed away, to do something special and we wanted to go through with what he wanted done,” said his son Dwayne, who has managed the business with his brother Toby for the past 15 years.

Remembering the beginnings, Joyce said she never imagined the business would last into its 50th. Whenever Wayne bought his first body shop, Joyce said it came with a wrecker and had only one employee. Now, Hampton’s Body Shop employs 17 people and operates a number of wreckers.

Joyce even recounted that first day Hampton’s Body Shop opened.

“[Wayne] got up to go to work, but he had the mumps,” Joyce said. “He missed the first week of work.”

“I wish he would of got to see [this anniversary]. He passed away in February, and I feel like he is looking down on us today,” Joyce added.

Dwayne, 47, and his younger brother Toby, 39, have many memories of running around the shop and riding in the tow trucks with their father as kids and working at the business once they got older. Now, the goal is to the keep the business going for maybe another 50 years.

“It is an honor and we just hope to be able to continue with his legacy and not let the community down and still provide the same service we have for the last 50 years,” Dwayne said.

Check out Bob Caldwell’s photos of the 50th anniversary celebration below.

Dwayne (left) and Toby with their mom Joyce. The brothers took over the family business.
Dwayne (left) and Toby with their mom Joyce. The brothers took over the family business.
Mo's Barbecue was on hand, serving up some delicious food.
Mo’s Barbecue was on hand, serving up some delicious food.
The grandkids had a ball at the celebration.
The grandkids had a ball at the celebration.
Joyce (center) with her sister-in-laws Juella H. Francis (left) and Muriel Jean Jones behind her.
Joyce (center) with her sister-in-laws Juella H. Francis (left) and Muriel Jean Jones behind her.
Two friends of the family cutting the cake.
Two friends of the family cutting the cake.
Toby and Dwayne Hampton stand in front of the celebration cake.
Toby and Dwayne Hampton stand in front of the celebration cake.
The Hampton brothers and their wives and mom Joyce.
The Hampton brothers and their wives and mom Joyce.
The Hampton brothers and their wives
The Hampton brothers and their wives Tonya (left) and Ellen (right)
Dwayne and his wife
Dwayne and his wife Tonya
A nice cake featuring a tow truck in honor of the 50th anniversary of Hampton's Body Shop.
A nice cake featuring a tow truck in honor of the 50th anniversary of Hampton’s Body Shop.
Toby Hampton's family
Toby Hampton’s family
Employees of Hampton's Body Shop at the celebration on Friday.
Employees of Hampton’s Body Shop at the celebration on Friday.
Joyce was married to Wayne Hampton for 54 years. Wayne passed away in February.
Joyce was married to Wayne Hampton for 54 years. Wayne passed away in February.
Joyce Hampton's grandkids enjoying the 50th anniversary of Hampton's Body Shop. Photos by Bob Caldwell
Joyce Hampton’s grandkids enjoying the 50th anniversary of Hampton’s Body Shop. Photos by Bob Caldwell