COEUR d’ALENE — Tom Addis was known for his aloha shirts, khaki shorts and big smiles when he was the owner of Lake City Ford.

But his impact went beyond selling vehicles.

Susan Nipp of Coeur d'Alene said Addis donated the truck for the “Mudgy Mobile” that carried her Mudgy and Millie characters through parades.

“That was just so kind,” she said Thursday.

Charlie Nipp said that was just one example of the behind-the-scenes contributions made by Addis.

“He and his family did things like that all the time,” Charlie Nipp said.

Addis, a Ford dealer for more than four decades, died recently. He was 82.

Addis bought his first Ford dealership in Chewelah, Wash., in 1975. In 1986, he bought the Dodge dealership in Coeur d’Alene and, four months later, purchased the Ford dealership.

“Being in the car business is like Arnold Palmer getting paid for what he loves to do," he once told The Press.

Mike White, owner of Mike White Ford in Coeur d’Alene, said Addis was a big part of the automotive community.

He said Addis served on Ford’s national dealer council, which was a way of giving his time to represent Ford dealers nationwide.

“He was everything that was good about the car business,” White said.

He said Addis was known for his kindness and community involvement and donated to many causes.

“He was very generous,” White said.

In 2016, Tom Addis sold his Lake City Ford dealership to Jim Parker. Mike White was a partner with Parker at the time.

In 2018, White purchased the Ford dealership from the Parker family.

White said Tom and his wife, Lynn, spent time with him after the transaction, which he appreciated.

“People always spoke well of Tom and Lynn and their family,” White said. “That’s the best testament anybody can get."

Mike Patrick, former managing editor of The Press, identified Addis as the No. 1 donor for the newspaper's holiday fundraiser, Christmas for All, for as long as Addis owned the dealership.

"One of the highlights of my year was always going to visit Tom and Jim Addis to pick up their hefty donations," Patrick said. "The check presentation took five minutes or so, but I always spent a lot longer than that with them — primarily being the recipient and sometimes the target of a stream of vintage Addis jokes."

In December 2009, Patrick wrote a story about the newspaper's Christmas for All history and impact. Among those he interviewed were former Hagadone Corp. executive Bob Paulos and Addis.

"Paulos credits Addis as the first major corporate sponsor, giving $4,000 that first year and $5,000 every year since," the story says. "But there was a catch.

"'I told him I wanted him to go out and buy all the red bicycles he could,'" Addis said with a chuckle. According to Addis, Paulos bought darn near every red bike in North Idaho those first few years before Addis relaxed the rule."

With two wheels or four, Addis always rolled closely with the local newspaper and hospitality company.

"He had an exceptional relationship with the Hagadone Corp. in general, but with Duane Hagadone in particular," Patrick said. "Both men would tell me stories about the other, usually laced with humor but always with respect and friendship that went beyond a strong business relationship.

"I can tell you this: If Duane Hagadone liked and respected you, you really earned it. The same I think can be said of Tom Addis."

Eve Knudtsen, president of Knudtsen Chevrolet in Post Falls, recalled meeting Tom Addis shortly after he came to town.

She said he was more than happy to talk about the operations of his dealership and share his knowledge of the automobile industry.

"He was successful, so I wanted to know," Knudtsen said. "What an engaging man. He really was."

She said Addis and her father, Wayne Knudtsen, were competitors, but good friends and met often for lunch.

Eve Knudtsen admired and appreciated Tom Addis for his efforts to help others.

"He seemed like he was a little larger than life," she said.

Charlie Nipp said Addis loved his family, his community and his work.

He described Addis as someone with a sharp business mind and a big heart who was an important part of the community’s fabric.

“His energy and enthusiasm for life transferred into everything he did," Nipp said.

What struck Nipp about Addis was his willingness to engage in important issues for the benefit of the community. He said Addis was supportive, communicative and courageous.

“Those are incredible traits,” Nipp said.