Bird-Kultgen Ford is Waco

Our story begins with two men: Arthur Bird and Jack Kultgen. Arthur Bird was a businessman who set up supermarkets during the time when there were still many “mom and pop” shops. Jack Kultgen was a WWI veteran from Michigan, who was sent to Ellington Field in Texas for flight training, and after the war ended, decided to stay when he met his future wife, Reba.  Jack started selling cars, and his first hurdle was teaching prospective customers to drive the model T. Jack and Arthur joined together and purchased Duncan-Smith Ford, which Jack would run.  In October 1936, Bird-Kultgen Ford officially opened its doors on 5^th Street – a building that today is used as a garage for the McLennan County Record Building. 

Business coming out of the great depression was tough for the first several years, but Jack and team fought through it.  Jack continued to run the dealership when his two sons went off to fight in WWII.  The war brought on economic difficulty when car production halted, but we made it through. When the war was over business boomed, and we soon outgrew our facility.  In 1947, Bird-Kultgen Ford moved to its second location on Franklin Avenue. The state-of-the-art building was one of the first in Waco to have air conditioning, and thousands came just to “feel the refrigerated air!” The business continued to grow, and through the years Jack gave much of himself to the city of Waco, the state of Texas, and the automobile industry. Some of them include:

• First President of The Brazos River Authority
• Chairman of the Baylor Stadium Drive Fund
• Chairman of capital campaign to help save Providence hospitals
• Chairman of capital campaign for Hillcrest hospital
• Chairman of the Texas State Highway Commission
• Driving force in construction of LaSalle, Valley Mills, Waco Drive, I-35
• Leader for building of the Waco Dam
• In charge of sugar and other rations for the state for WWII
• First Caucasian board member for Paul Quinn College
• Helped charter TSTC, first chairman of the board of regents

Jack’s legacy was honored in this video for the Waco chamber Legacy Award.

Today we continue Jack’s legacy of community service through our Bird-Kultgen Cares program.

We are grateful for those who have become part of our “extended family”—especially our customers who have visited the dealership for generations, bringing their families and friends with them. As a pillar of this community, we have stood through wars, economic downturns, and hard times, and will continue to stand because of our dedication to our employees, our customers, and our community.

We appreciate you taking some time to learn more about our history.  Bird-Kultgen Ford and Waco, TX have a rich history, and the shared promise of a bold and exciting future.    When you think Waco, Texas, think Bird-Kultgen Ford.  We are Waco.

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