CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -

The Crown Automotive Group has acquired its third Tennessee dealership, Kelly Subaru in Chattanooga.

Crown’s Tennessee market footprint also includes Crown Chrysler in Chattanooga and Crown Chrysler in Cleveland.

The Kelly family has served the Chattanooga community for more than 80 years, and Crown president and chief operating officer Jim Myers said the Kelly team is customer-centered and passionate. He added that the team supports the community.

He complimented Steve Marlin’s work in leading the Kelly team, noting that Marlin has been Kelly general manager for almost nine years.

“We’re excited to expand our presence in the Chattanooga area and continue the growth of this dealership as an important part of our award-winning group,” Myers said in a news release.

Crown Automotive Group said the Kelly Subaru dealership will remain in its current location at 900 Riverfront Parkway in the west side of Chattanooga. Crown has been in business for more than 51 years, with operations in Florida, Ohio, and Tennessee.

Subaru approved Crown to operate as a single point in the greater Chattanooga area, in addition to parts of Georgia and Alabama.

Crown will operate with its current team, including Marlin and fixed operations manager Desmond Hagan.

Signage changes to the Crown Subaru branding should be the only difference customers see during the transition.

Previous Kelly Subaru owner Tim Kelly said his time with the dealership has been a special chapter in his life. Kelly said he looks forward to becoming a Crown Subaru customer.

The transaction marks the 22nd addition to the Crown Automotive Group.

Crown Automotive mourns loss of its founder & CEO

In other news, Crown Automotive said on Monday that its founder and chief executive officer, Dwayne Hawkins died on Dec. 24 after a brief illness.

The dealer group described Hawkins as a true automotive industry icon, noting that he started the business in 1969 out of a run-down, one-car showroom in St. Petersburg, Fla. He is a former TIME Dealer of the Year for the state of Florida who was also dedicated to giving back to his local community.

In addition to spearheading the growth of Crown Automotive Group, which currently encompasses 22 dealerships in three states and employs more than 1,100 people, Hawkins supported various civic and charitable causes.

With time and funds, Hawkins supported entities such as St. Petersburg's Bayfront Hospital and Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital. For Tampa's Moffitt Cancer Center, he founded the Hawkins Stem Cell Fund.

He also served as a director and was part of the board that helped shape the Pinellas Education Foundation, which Crown said is the top U.S. education foundation.

Hawkins through the years opened Crown showroom doors to allow employees and neighbors to package more than 1 million meals for the Feeding Children Everywhere initiative.

He also supported Habitat for Humanity, financing and encouraging the Crown workforce to build affordable housing for 10 low-income, local families.

The Tampa Bay Lightning recently honored Hawkins as a Community Hero, awarding $50,000 to the St. Petersburg Free Clinic, Florida Dream Center, Starting Right, Now and Christian Home & Bible School.

He was also recognized at the National Auto Dealers Association annual convention in 2015.

Hawkins was set to be inducted into the Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame in 2020, but the induction ceremony was deferred until 2021 because of the pandemic.

“As many honors and awards that Dwayne received, I am sure he would tell you that the thing he was most proud of was his Crown team,” Myers said. “Dwayne told me recently that he believed our team to be amongst the very best in the automotive industry, anywhere."

Team members remember Hawkins as a man with shirt sleeves rolled up, completely engaged in dealership operations.

“It is truly too bad that everyone could not have gotten to know Dwayne, as they would have enjoyed his friendly, humble, and down-to-earth demeanor,” Myers said. “He was a great leader, mentor, and friend to his Crown team and associates."

Hawkins’ son, Kevin, described him as a great father, friend and mentor.

“His loss to the Crown family is immense,” said Kevin Hawkins, who will become principal dealer and chairman of the Crown Automotive Group.

Kevin Hawkins continued, “Dwayne Hawkins was an inspirational and visionary leader, a dedicated and passionate giver, and a truly remarkable human being. He will be sorely missed.”