• Sign Up
    • Yearly by Check
    • Monthly Recurring
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Account
  • Log In
The Hendersonian
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Agriculture
    • Business
    • Local
    • Police
    • Politics
    • Schools
    • Science
    • Sports
    • State
    • World

    Deaconess Henderson Hospital Advisory Board gives $70,000 to local nonprofits

    Chill out at the Friends of the Library membership meeting July 12

    Two new honorees added to Juneteenth’s impact sign display

    Two new honorees added to Juneteenth’s impact sign display

    Wind turbine ordinance, which would be the first in Kentucky, is key to what ultimately occurs in Cordelio project

    Wind turbine ordinance, which would be the first in Kentucky, is key to what ultimately occurs in Cordelio project

    Macy talks socks,1978 UK champs and more during author visit to promote his book

    Macy talks socks,1978 UK champs and more during author visit to promote his book

    Alliance dedicates new Henderson County Mine

    Alliance dedicates new Henderson County Mine

    Trending Tags

  • Tech
    Blazing-fast broadband services now available to the majority of homes in the city and county

    Blazing-fast broadband services now available to the majority of homes in the city and county

    HMP&L signs initial agreement to build a battery energy storage system on South Green Street

    HMP&L signs initial agreement to build a battery energy storage system on South Green Street

    In some parts of the U.S., the grid of the future might be closer than you think

    Trending Tags

  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Sports
    2025 Handy Fest photo gallery

    2025 Handy Fest photo gallery

    Gritty Lady Cols advance to Final 4

    Gritty Lady Cols advance to Final 4

    Summer blockbusters finally arrive in June

    Summer blockbusters finally arrive in June

    A former Japanese tennis star champions Henderson County athletes

    A former Japanese tennis star champions Henderson County athletes

    Stanley hopes his exhibition is a reminder ‘to be open to joyfulness…from whatever ridiculous source it may come’

    Stanley hopes his exhibition is a reminder ‘to be open to joyfulness…from whatever ridiculous source it may come’

    Henderson joins West Kentucky Film Commission with hopes of luring movie makers here

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel
    Grants available from Deaconess Henderson Hospital Community Program Fund

    Hospital CAO: Deaconess Henderson will not close

    Enjoy the fresh taste of summer

    Enjoy the fresh taste of summer

    Regional collaborative assists those suffering from mental health challenges with online resources

    Regional collaborative assists those suffering from mental health challenges with online resources

    Plenty of baseball to watch without stepping into a big league stadium

    Plenty of baseball to watch without stepping into a big league stadium

    Matthew 25 cuts the ribbon on new mobile sexual health unit

    Matthew 25 cuts the ribbon on new mobile sexual health unit

    The Gnomes of Audubon Forest, a Henderson Tourist Commission initiative, is a scavenger hunt for all ages

    The Gnomes of Audubon Forest, a Henderson Tourist Commission initiative, is a scavenger hunt for all ages

    Trending Tags

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Agriculture
    • Business
    • Local
    • Police
    • Politics
    • Schools
    • Science
    • Sports
    • State
    • World

    Deaconess Henderson Hospital Advisory Board gives $70,000 to local nonprofits

    Chill out at the Friends of the Library membership meeting July 12

    Two new honorees added to Juneteenth’s impact sign display

    Two new honorees added to Juneteenth’s impact sign display

    Wind turbine ordinance, which would be the first in Kentucky, is key to what ultimately occurs in Cordelio project

    Wind turbine ordinance, which would be the first in Kentucky, is key to what ultimately occurs in Cordelio project

    Macy talks socks,1978 UK champs and more during author visit to promote his book

    Macy talks socks,1978 UK champs and more during author visit to promote his book

    Alliance dedicates new Henderson County Mine

    Alliance dedicates new Henderson County Mine

    Trending Tags

  • Tech
    Blazing-fast broadband services now available to the majority of homes in the city and county

    Blazing-fast broadband services now available to the majority of homes in the city and county

    HMP&L signs initial agreement to build a battery energy storage system on South Green Street

    HMP&L signs initial agreement to build a battery energy storage system on South Green Street

    In some parts of the U.S., the grid of the future might be closer than you think

    Trending Tags

  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Sports
    2025 Handy Fest photo gallery

    2025 Handy Fest photo gallery

    Gritty Lady Cols advance to Final 4

    Gritty Lady Cols advance to Final 4

    Summer blockbusters finally arrive in June

    Summer blockbusters finally arrive in June

    A former Japanese tennis star champions Henderson County athletes

    A former Japanese tennis star champions Henderson County athletes

    Stanley hopes his exhibition is a reminder ‘to be open to joyfulness…from whatever ridiculous source it may come’

    Stanley hopes his exhibition is a reminder ‘to be open to joyfulness…from whatever ridiculous source it may come’

    Henderson joins West Kentucky Film Commission with hopes of luring movie makers here

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel
    Grants available from Deaconess Henderson Hospital Community Program Fund

    Hospital CAO: Deaconess Henderson will not close

    Enjoy the fresh taste of summer

    Enjoy the fresh taste of summer

    Regional collaborative assists those suffering from mental health challenges with online resources

    Regional collaborative assists those suffering from mental health challenges with online resources

    Plenty of baseball to watch without stepping into a big league stadium

    Plenty of baseball to watch without stepping into a big league stadium

    Matthew 25 cuts the ribbon on new mobile sexual health unit

    Matthew 25 cuts the ribbon on new mobile sexual health unit

    The Gnomes of Audubon Forest, a Henderson Tourist Commission initiative, is a scavenger hunt for all ages

    The Gnomes of Audubon Forest, a Henderson Tourist Commission initiative, is a scavenger hunt for all ages

    Trending Tags

No Result
View All Result
The Hendersonian
No Result
View All Result
Home News Business

After 51 years, Tappan says it’s time to retire

Vince Tweddell by Vince Tweddell
March 29, 2025
in Business
0
After 51 years, Tappan says it’s time to retire

Rick Tappan celebrated his retirement Friday at Kate Faupel Ford. Tappan is retiring after a 51-year career--47 of those in the car business. (Hendersonian Photo/Vince Tweddell)

0
SHARES
1.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Rick Tappan got his start in the car business as a just-graduated 17-year-old working as a clean-up boy at Mike Turks Inc. in his hometown of East Liverpool, Ohio. He had to wait 1 ½ months before he could start selling cars, because of a rule that car salesmen had to be 18, said his wife, Barbara.

From there, he moved to Nick Ickes Chevrolet in Robinson, Ill.

And in 1986, he and family moved again, this time to Henderson, where he took a job at Dempewolf’s. He remained at Dempewolf’s, worked his way up general manager, till it was sold in 2019.

After that, he worked at Sonitrol for four years.

When Kate Faupel acquired the business and opened Kate Faupel Ford, Tappan came back and took a job as operations manager. Since then, he’s worked there with daughter, Elizabeth, and son, Ben, whom he also had worked with at Dempewolf’s before it was sold.

Being able to work with two of his children, he said, was a thrill.

Instead of the stereotype of car salesmen, Tappan said he’s always seen his as a noble profession and a job he looked forward to going to. He said people need cars, and he was proud to sell them and be able to offer service to fix them.

“I was very proud to be in the car business,” he said.

Barbara said without her encouragement, he wouldn’t retire—at least now soon—because he still feels like he has much to offer and is energetic for the work.

“I’m the one who’s been pushing for it,” she said with a chuckle.

She said they’re planning a trip to the Florida Keys and then a drive up the East Coast soon.

Previous Post

Significant rollback of Kentucky’s regulation of water pollution becomes law

Next Post

Sureway North cuts ribbon on $1 million renovation

Vince Tweddell

Vince Tweddell

Vince Tweddell is the founder, publisher and editor of the Hendersonian.

Next Post

Sureway North cuts ribbon on $1 million renovation

Recent News

Deaconess Henderson Hospital Advisory Board gives $70,000 to local nonprofits

June 21, 2025

Chill out at the Friends of the Library membership meeting July 12

June 21, 2025
Two new honorees added to Juneteenth’s impact sign display

Two new honorees added to Juneteenth’s impact sign display

June 21, 2025
Henderson civic, industry leader Joel Hopper dies

Henderson civic, industry leader Joel Hopper dies

June 21, 2025
  • Sign Up
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Account
  • Log In

© 2025 The Hendersonian • Henderson, KY 42420

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Sign Up
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Login

© 2025 The Hendersonian • Henderson, KY 42420