Quality Parts Express

Beginning as Florida and Harris excavating, 

Eight brothers owned and operated Florida Brothers Auto Parts  until it was sold to Quality Parts Express.

From: The Daily News-Journal Murfreesboro, Tennessee • Sat, Sep 7, 1996 Page 23 By LISA MARCHESONI Staff writer

Crime doesn't always pay, Sheriff Truman Jones says. Jones was referring to how a drug dealer's confiscated Corvette, was refurbished into a drug-education vehicle - with support by area merchants. Twenty-two merchants donated about $14,000 to revamp the sports car which is used for the Drug Abuse Resistance Education training and the School Resource Officers' program. No tax dollars were used. The car was seized from a Murfreesboro man convicted of selling cocaine.

"We are educating kids in. the community that selling drugs is not always a lucrative avenue," Jones told the merchants. "This is a great draw for the kids. "There's no way we could have done this without the people who worked with us," he said. Jones showed the revamped car to contributing merchants during a program at the sheriff's department last week. "It's money well spent," Jones said.

"I want you to know that." Sgt. Bill West, the school resource officer at Central Middle School, said the students "love it." When West drives the car, Principal Butch Vaughn asks him to park in front of 1 the school for more visibility. The car won best of show honors from a D.A.R.E. competition. Jones said forfeitures and fines from drug dealers go back into a fund to battle drug use. The sheriff said he has opposed efforts by the state Legislature to redirect the fines and forfeitures into other funds. 

The sheriff's department and Murfreesboro Police Department operate a joint team of officers to combat drugs. Through law enforcement and community efforts, people are fighting drugs, he said. Jones credited employee Bill Truesdell for soliciting the donations. Merchants who contributed to the refurbishing of the car were Jack Peeler of Parkway Chevrolet, Don Alexander of Alexander Ford, Ed and Edwin Florida of Florida Brothers Auto Parts, and Russ King of Southern Vehicle Products in Clearwater, Fla. Others included Mike Bailey of Bailey's Automotive, Dale Nash and Ken Lybe of Maxi Muffler, Phil Dodd of Phil's Transmission, Tom Burks and Jim Lowe of Gemini Communication, George and Pam Williams of Pinstriping by George, and Terry Harris.

Judy Brown of Custom Stitching and Design, David Kellerman of the Very Idea, Danny Miles of Danmor Marketing of Atlanta, Ga., Tom and Ted Batey of Batey's office supply, Nelson and Ann and Mike Warren of Audiomasters Armstrong of Southeastern Tire also participated.

Photo: Thanks for your help Sheriff Truman Jones, left, expresses appreciation to merchants who donated to a Corvette used in drug prevention for the School Resource Officer and DARE programs. From left are Ed Florida of Florida Brothers Auto Parts, Jim Lowe of Gemini Communication, Tom Batey and Teb Batey of Batey's, Ann and Nelson Armstrong of Southeastern Tire, Terry Harris of H and H Auto Trim and Edwin Florida of Florida Brothers