Rv Dealer Robert Caldwell dies

Automobile dealer Robert Caldwell, who sold cars in Central Ohio for more than 50 years, died Sunday at the Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital in Columbus. He was 84.

Caldwell owned Bob Caldwell Dodge Country Inc. and Bob Caldwell Chrysler Jeep, both on Morse Road in the city. He also operated Caldwell Leasing and Bob Caldwell RV.

Caldwell was active in Columbus and Ohio automotive associations. He was a past president of the Columbus Auto Dealers and was a trustee of the Ohio Auto Dealers Association. He was nominated for the Time magazine Quality Dealer Award more than 10 years ago, said Tim Doran, president of the state car dealers association.

"He was a class act and a quality guy," Doran said, "the epitome of business ethics and a gentleman. He's going to be missed by a lot of dealers."

Bob Caldwell Automotive was the 10th largest new-car dealership in Central Ohio in 2004, selling and leasing 1,892 new vehicles. Combined with its used-car sales and automotive services, the company generated $81.2 million in revenue that year.