In most cases, service & repairs on your vehicle at Colony One Auto can be completed the same day. If not, we offer free shuttle service! Contact us today for your repair or service needs!
We offer one of Houston's best warranties! 18 months or 18,000 miles on all work completed on your vehicle. Call us today to find out more!
With decades of research, BG products are dedicated to make your vehicle last longer and perform better. Find out more...
Need a ride to home or work? Colony One offers free Shuttle Service in a clean vehicle with a friendly driver. Contact us today!
Colony One Auto Staff
Sam Tate, Founder
In 1971, Sam Tate established Wilcrest Automotive in Houston, Texas after repairing Volkswagons in his garage at home managing a Texaco Service Center. For many years Sam maintained a successful blend of community activities while providing quality automotive repair. This led Sam's shop to achieve one of the highest repair rating in Houston. Wilcrest Automotive was then honored as the first shop in Houston to receive membership in the American Automobile Association (AAA).
In 1986, Sam sold Wilcrest Automotive and began a retreat with his family in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado for several years. Upon returning to the Houston area, Sam decided he wanted to start another automobile repair facility in the Fort Bend area. Therefore, in April of 1991, Sam and General Manager, Rick Hanson, opened the doors to Colony One Auto Center.
After a brief illness, Sam passed away in February of 1999. He will be sorely missed not only by his family and many friends, but by this area and all the customers whose lives he touched throughout the years. The Tate family continues the same standard of excellence Sam set forth thirty plus years ago.
Rod Tate, Owner
Rod Tate joined the Colony One team February of 1995 as a service advisor. Rod had the opportunity to learn the business the way Sam did it, the right way, until Sam passed away in Feb. of 1999. Rod continues to operate Colony One with the principles that Sam had set in place and that people have come to expect from Colony One.
When Rod isn't at work, he enjoys the busy life of having a large family with lots of activities. He and his wife Karen and children: Amber, Sara, Justin and Clay live in the First Colony community.
Rick Hanson, General Manager
Rick Hanson graduated from San Gorgonio High School in San Bernardino, California in 1972. After graduating, he joined the U.S. Navy and served in Vietnam and the Western Pacific until 1974 when the ship on which he was stationed, the U.S.S. Duluth, came back stateside. Rick was discharged from the Navy in 1975, but continued as a reservist while attending Alan Hancock College in Santa Maria California. He pursued an auto technologies curriculum and graduated with an Associate’s degree.
In 1977, Rick started his first professional career position in the automotive repair business in Santa Barbara, California. All facets of the repair business were encountered making his practical automotive education well rounded.
Rick met Sam Tate in 1980 at Sam's Wilcrest Automotive in Alief, Texas. He went to work for Sam in 1984, and the two became close friends. In 1991, Sam and Rick opened Colony One Auto Center. The business quickly grew into a successful repair center with customer service being its first priority. Rick has continued with the original plan - "Service the customers and their vehicles as we would like to be serviced. Our main objective is to get the job done completely right the first time. On those rare occasions that we don't, we stick with it until we do." He has built many cars for the track and currently races two race cars on tracks in Texas and Louisiana.
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Corey Dillon, Service Manager
Corey Dillon joined Colony One Auto Center in 1993, after three years at a local paint and body shop. In his first position at Colony One, he played an integral role in the design and implementation of a functioning parts room. After three years in that position, he was transferred to the front office where he worked directly with Same Tate learning the ins and outs of the business.
In 2003, Corey was asked to manage the Service Department and keep the quality that Rick Hanson had established since the beginning. Although every position is critical, in order to maintain his well oiled machine, this one is the center of the wheel, as its been called for years.
Corey and his wife, Kristy, are blessed with two beautiful children. His hobbies include boating, water sports and golf.
Gary Pretzsch, Service Advisor
Gary joined Colony One in 2003 as a service writer. He worked for seven years in the bicycle business and was first introduced to Colony One as a customer himself.
Gary believes in treating customers the way he would want to be treated and enjoys helping customers understand the repairs and maintenance on their cars.
Gary is married and has two beautiful children. He enjoys time spent with his family, riding bikes and gardening.
Eddy Hanlen, Service Advisor
Eddy was born and raised in Bellaire, Texas. He graduated from Bellaire High School in 1975 and while in high school, he attended a trade school for auto repair while working after school. After graduating, Eddy started earning his way into the real world by rebuilding transmissions. In 1983, he started working for Sam Tate rebuilding transmissions and completing general repairs. Sam sold his shop to move into other investments, while Eddy stayed in the transmission business working for Astro Transmissions for 24 years. After moving around a bit, he found his way back with Sam's crew. He enjoys working with the Colony One Auto team. The customers are great, they do honest, high quality work, and he can feel good about the service Colony One Auto provides.
Eddy has been involved with N.A.T.F. certification team (which is similar to ASE certification for mechanics) and has also been involved with the student advisory comittee for H.I.S.D., Bellaire High School, Westberry High School and Waltrip High School. Currently, he is certified by ASE, A.T.S.G. and ATRA along with countless classes and seminars he has attended.
My wife and I have been married for 28 years with one grandchild living in Florida. We enjoy dancing, scuba diving, sailing, outdoor cooking, motorcycle riding and fishing. For several years he was involved in catamaran racing and cruiser class racing.
Kevin Klusendorf, Parts Manager
Kevin joined the Colony One team in 1998 as the parts manager. Prior to joining Colony One he worked in the auto parts business for 14 years. Kevin is known in the industry as being able to find any part for just about anything, and is even called by other shops in the area to help them run down a hard to find item. The right part & fast help keep the work flowing steadily in the shop. Kevin is a father & grandfather, and likes to spend his weekends at the beach and bbq-ing in the back yard.
