The April 2025 members meeting of Glendale Arizona Historical Society will be held on Monday April 28, 2025 at Manistee Ranch, located at 5127 W Northern Avenue, Glendale AZ 85301 beginning at 7:00 pm.
Our guest will be Dave Kimmerle, president and CEO of Sanderson Ford in Glendale. Dave will share stories of his life, history of the Ford dealership and reflection on Glendale. It promises to be an interesting and informative evening.
Please enter Manistee Ranch off of 51st Avenue and park in the parking lot or go through the vehicle gate and park near the house. Members are welcome to bring a guest. Non~members are also welcome to attend and learn about GAHS and historic Manistee Ranch.
Now is the perfect time to become a Glendale Arizona Historical Society member!
https://www.glendalearizonahistoricalsociety.org/membership
A bit more about David Kimmerle:
David Kimmerle is the CEO and president of Sanderson Ford which is celebrating its 70th year in Glendale.
Don & La Verne Sanderson opened a Ford Dealership at 56th Avenue & Grand Avenue in 1955. The new dealership opened with 40 vehicles and 20 employees on a couple of acres down the road from where they are currently located. That same year Ford introduced the Thunderbird.
David never dreamed he would be running a car dealership someday, let alone one that includes a massive parts wholesale operation, a popular car museum and a ‘50s-themed diner on a 63-acre complex. The Brooklyn, NY native saw his future on the farm after his parents moved from Brooklyn when he was 10 years old. But life is like that, and David fell in love with the business, and the owner’s daughter. David & Sue married in 1968. Together, they had six children and 16 grandchildren. at that time. To this day he raises Angus and highland cattle, which he cares for in Phoenix and at his Flagstaff ranch and is very involved with the Cave Creek Rodeo.
In 1975, David became the sales manager. He was general manager until Don Sanderson passed away in 1985 and David became his successor, and the business continued to grow. At that time, he asked Mrs. Sanderson, who was very important in the development of the business, if they could change the name to Sanderson Ford and she said absolutely. She was always supportive, even when a Lincoln Mercury dealership was added.
After Don Sanderson passed away, David built a 90,000-square-foot, all enclosed and air-conditioned service department, at a time when everything in Phoenix was all outdoor open bay. He thought they were taking a little risk with the addition production doubled, especially in the summer months.
David’s wife of 46 years, Sue, passed in 2015. To honor her legacy, David and his family established an agriculture youth scholarship that is given each year in her name at the Maricopa County Fair. Several years ago, David re-connected with Jill Banks, an old family friend, and they married.
David is recognized for his dedication to his more than 500 employees and the community. They are the only car dealership in the Phoenix area that is closed on Sundays. Their two dealerships help to support several local charities with the focus on kids and military. They annually raise over a million dollars a year to support their primary partners: Ronald McDonald House, St Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, Military Assistance Mission, and Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center. Additionally, they have “Seats for Soldiers,” every home game of the Arizona Cardinals, Arizona Coyotes, Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks, seats are given to military members.
Also check out other Meetups in Glendale, Nonprofit events in Glendale.
