THE RUSSELL Barnett family has been in the automotive industry for 86 years, and their generosity and impact equally match their long-standing reputation of integrity in car sales in the community. Russell Barnett’s father, Albert Barnett, started his car business in 1939, and his son followed in his footsteps, establishing five locations in Tullahoma and Winchester.
The Russell Barnett logo can be spotted on vehicles across the country. Through their commitment to excellence and their presence in their communities, the Barnett family name is well-known and respected. Barnett’s sons, Alex and Adam Barnett, run the Ford and the Chevrolet businesses (respectively) in Winchester, and his nephew, Keith Barnett, runs the Ford dealership in Tullahoma. It’s a business grown over decades through strong family and community roots. Keith Barnett remembers his Uncle Russell pouring into his life from a young age.
“He coached me in church league basketball 35 years ago,” Keith said. “He and Deby (Russell Barnett’s wife) have been involved in some form of coaching for at least 35 years.” They have made it a priority to be involved in school sports, and they love attending games and coaching various teams: Little League, basketball, football, and other sports. They coach and sponsor youth league teams and contribute to their church and other local places, but Russell prefers to keep the majority of his charitable contributions private.
“I will just say that I made my living in this area, and I feel like this is where my money should go back to,” Russell said. “It needs to go back to the people I live and work with every day.”
Russell lives in Tullahoma, but he invests in Tullahoma and Franklin County.
“We try to do an equal amount between Tullahoma and Franklin County because we have the dealerships there,” Russell said. “The most-known would probably be the waters we give.” Russell’s company donates 32,000 water bottles per year to school sports concessions, whose proceeds benefit the teams and players.
The Barnetts do an excellent job balancing the operation of successful businesses with service to the cities they love. One event hosted last year was to introduce a mobile maintenance service. They went to schools, libraries, and other businesses in town to give the staff free car washes. They blessed people in town while also demonstrating the ease of ordering mobile service. This is a family that makes community a top priority, whether through public-facing or private contributions.
Russell said his business is built on honesty, which is non-negotiable for all employees. He treats his employees and customers like family. Russell Barnett Ford demonstrates that level of care for its customers by offering a limited lifetime powertrain warranty on select units. Keith confirmed that $250,000 has been saved for the consumer to date, and that number continues to climb.
Honesty, humility, and intentional presence are what make Russell Barnett’s family and business a valued part of Tullahoma and Winchester’s communities. GN
