ABOUT US
1939
McCormick-Deering opens a store in Chattanooga selling and servicing farm tractors and equipment and International Trucks.
1945
Local employees of McCormick-Deering, Photon P. Clift and Craig Smith purchase the store and name the company The Clift-Smith Company.
1958
Mr. Smith along with employees Bud Lee, Jim Coleman and Vernon Elmore form a new company, Idealease of Chattanooga, Inc., to address the growing truck rental and leasing industry.
1965
Mr. Smith purchases Mr. Clift's interest in The Clift-Smith Company and ceases their involvement in the farm equipment business to concentrate solely on trucks.
1971
Idealease of Chattanooga moves into their new facility at 2601 8th Avenue in Chattanooga.
1972
L.W. "Bud" Lee purchased a 50% interest in the company and became President and Dealer Principal.
1975
The company's name is changed to LeeSmith International as they move into their new dealership location at 2600 8th Avenue in Chattanooga.
1978
Mr. Lee purchased Mr. Craig Smith, Jr.'s interest and became sole stock holder at the time.
1982
LeeSmith International secures a Ford heavy truck franchise. The company's name is shortened to LeeSmith, Inc. This is the first dealership in the country to have the dual lines of both International and Ford.
1989
The company's 50th anniversary is highlighted when Business Week and the American Truck Dealer's Association honor Mr. "Bud" Lee and LeeSmith with the industry's highest award, "Truck Dealer of the Year".
1991
LeeSmith expands their product offerings again by being granted a Mitsubishi-Fuso truck franchise.
1992
The company passes to 2nd generation management when Less W. Lee, Jr. is named President and CEO.
1995
A new state-of-the-art 2 million BTU, 53', double down draft paint booth and custom paint mixing equipment is added to the body shop.
1998
Idealease of Chattanooga Logistics is formed to serve the growing demands of customers for single source solutions to transportation problems. Idealease of Chattanooga expands with a new location in Birmingham, Alabama.
1999
LeeSmith and Idealease of Chattanooga begin a substantial expansion and renovation project to update and expand it's Chattanooga facilities.
2007
LeeSmith expands their product offering once again. Becoming the areas only Isuzu commercial truck dealership.
2008
LeeSmith expanded their parts and service department to include RVIA certified technicians and is now the areas only Monaco and Tiffin authorized service and repair center.