HOUSTON, Sept. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Leslie Doggett Auto Group is proud to announce the acquisition of Russell & Smith Ford, Honda, and Collision Center operations, as well as one of the nation's top five wholesale Ford and Honda parts distribution businesses. Located just one mile south of Houston's world-renowned Texas Medical Center at the 610 South Loop and Main Street, the acquisition was made from the Mike Smith and Chase Smith families.

For more than a century, Russell & Smith has been a cornerstone of the Houston community. Since its founding in 1917, the dealership group has built a stellar reputation for its integrity and deep community involvement, becoming a premier name for Ford and Honda vehicles. The business generates over $300 million in annual revenue from its sales, service, parts, and collision operations, supported by a dedicated team of 226 full-time employees and 58 highly skilled technicians. Doggett is incredibly proud to carry on the remarkable legacy that the Smith family has cultivated and nurtured for generations.

This acquisition further strengthens Doggett's position in the automotive and heavy equipment industries, bringing Doggett's total dealership/location count to 61 including 12 automotive dealerships throughout Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Louisiana and the State of Chihuahua, Mexico.

"This growth has been attributed to Doggett's ability to empower and delight the customer," said Jason Mosley, vice president of the Doggett Automotive Group. Mosley expressed his enthusiasm for adding these two dealerships to the company's expanding family of dealerships. "Our standards of service are extreme," he said. "We spend an inordinate amount of time hiring and training driven and committed folks to create the 'Doggett Difference.' A great customer experience is everything to us."

Mosley continued that with three Ford and two Honda dealerships, Doggett will have the best inventory in the Greater Houston market, ensuring customers can find their perfect car or truck. Mosley added, "Our team is excited to deliver the 'Doggett Difference' to every person who walks through our doors. The 'Doggett Difference' has made a true impact, earning us the coveted Ford President's Award four years in a row, and leading us to being honored as the Fastest Growing Ford Dealership in the nation."

The Doggett Automotive Group is a division of the Doggett Equipment Services Group, one of North America's largest family-owned dealership enterprises. The company operates across six divisions, generating over $3 billion in annual revenue and employing over 2,900 professionals, including more than 700 world-class technicians.

Doggett Equipment Services Group Operating Divisions Include:

1. Construction & Forestry Divisions
Exclusive John Deere C&F dealer for Louisiana and East/South Texas

• 18 John Deere Construction & Forestry dealerships
• John Deere: #1 in forestry and #2 in construction equipment in North America

2. Material Handling Division
Exclusive Toyota Material Handling dealer for Greater Houston, Beaumont, San Antonio & Southern Texas, and Chihuahua, Mexico

• 8 dealerships specializing in forklifts, racking, warehouse automation & robotics
• Toyota: #1 forklift manufacturer in North America and globally

3. Highway & Severe Duty Truck Division
Exclusive Freightliner dealer for the State of Arkansas, San Antonio, Pharr, Laredo, Austin, and El Paso

• 9 Freightliner, 5 Western Star dealerships, 2 Vernon Gene's (Dallas and El Paso) and #1 Great Dane trailer dealer in the U.S.
• Specializing in highway, vocational, and severe duty new and used truck sales, leasing, parts, and service
• Freightliner (a Daimler Benz company): #1 heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America

4. Crane Services Division
Exclusive full-line Link-Belt dealer for the State of Louisiana

• Specializing in the sale, rental, parts, and service of rough terrain, telescopic, crawler, and truck cranes

5. Doggett Automotive Division
Twelve automotive dealerships including:

• 3 Ford, 2 Honda, and 1 each of Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lincoln, Nissan, VW, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram
• Serving Houston, East Texas and Beaumont, TX - proudly delivering to your home and office

6. Saddlebrook Equity & Management ("SEAM")
Saddlebrook Equity & Management (SEAM) is a family-owned and operated entity that makes controlling equity investments in a diverse range of industries, including industrial businesses, software, manufacturing, and other select ventures.

• SEAM's investment approach and operational expertise are built on the legacy of its sister company, Doggett Equipment Services Group. Since its founding in 1993, the company has successfully acquired over 100 dealerships and enterprises through 37 acquisitions, all of which continue to thrive today. This track record and consistent precedent over time demonstrates SEAM's commitment to ensuring every business it acquires becomes or remains a successful, industry-leading enterprise.
   
• SEAM acquires assets and businesses through various channels, including public company divestitures and carve-outs, private sales from family-owned or entrepreneurial businesses, and financial restructurings. Known for being a creative and reliable partner, SEAM acts quickly and confidently to transform these acquisitions into strong, independent companies. The company's extensive track record highlights its ability to execute complex acquisitions and successfully cultivate and operate challenging manufacturing and industrial businesses.
   
• SEAM is highly selective in its investments, focusing on a small number of companies. This approach allows SEAM to build genuine partnerships with the management teams of its portfolio companies, who then share in the wealth created from these investments.

Doggett remains fully family-owned with no private equity or outside investors, proudly maintaining its independence while continuing to grow across the automotive, heavy equipment, material handling, and industrial sectors. For more information, please visit doggett.com

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SOURCE Leslie Doggett Industries