Get To Know Jim Butler Chevrolet Centralia

Jim Butler Auto Group currently employs over 430 people at its St. Louis and Mid-Missouri area dealerships, and continually earns numerous awards for sales, quality and customer service, including:

• General Motors "Dealer of the Year" eleven years in a row (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025)
• General Motors "Mark of Excellence": 2007-2025
• J.D. Power "Dealer of Excellence" 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2025
• MADA’s 2022 TIME “Dealer of the Year” for Missouri

A Disciplined Leader

Don credits much of his professional success to the foundational lessons he learned serving as a Scout Sniper in the United States Marine Corps. The military instilled in him a deep sense of discipline, the value of teamwork, and the importance of putting his team’s needs before his own. Don leads by example, believing that a leader must be both a mentor and a coach. These Marine Corps values—honor, courage, and commitment—are the pillars upon which he has built his business and his reputation in the automotive industry.

Don’s Values and Philosophy

Don operates on a simple yet powerful philosophy passed down to him by Mr. Jim Butler:

“If you treat your customers with respect, look them in the eye, and always be honest with them, success will follow.”

For Don, the car business is about more than just transactions; it is about relationships and trust. “After I sold my first car in 1990, I knew this would be my life's work,” Don says. “We strive to create the same excitement and energy I felt on the showroom floor when I was a ten-year-old boy watching my dad buy a Chevy. Our goal is to ensure every customer feels that same joy and transparency today.”

Giving Back to His Community

Don’s commitment to service extends beyond the dealership. Having grown up in the region, he is dedicated to making Mid-Missouri a better place to live and work. Don and his teams support a wide variety of local causes and regional organizations that promote health, well-being, and community growth, maintaining the Jim Butler Auto Group’s long-standing tradition of local philanthropy.

Don’s Background

A native of Crestwood and a proud Marine Corps veteran, Don has been a fixture in the Missouri automotive landscape for over three decades. His passion for cars is a family affair; he has been married to his wife, Kay, for 35 years, and together they have raised four sons. The legacy continues as three of his sons have followed in his footsteps, working alongside him in the family business. When he isn't at the dealership, Don is a devoted family man and grandfather who enjoys golf, travel, hiking, and cheering on his favorite team as a huge Buffalo Bills fan.