Don Hewlett

Lan L. (Don) Hewlett, III, 89, family man, car dealer, Williamson County business leader, and humanitarian passed away on October 17, 2024.
Don was born in Lockhart, Texas on September 21, 1935 to Lan L. Hewlett and Kathryn Hilgers Hewlett. He cherished his small-town Texas upbringing under the watchful eyes of his Mom, Dad, and extended family, including both sets of grandparents only a bicycle ride away. During World War II his family moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas where his dad was stationed, then to San Antonio, and finally returned to Lockhart. Donnie, as he was known in his younger days, was a gifted athlete playing baseball, basketball, and golf, but his first love was football. He was a 3-year starter and All District Quarterback for the Lockhart Lions. A knee injury derailed his plans to play for the Southwest Texas State Bobcats, so after graduating in 1953 he headed to the University of Texas at Austin and studied Marketing.
As Don loved to say, teenage boys are often overcome with fumes gasoline fumes and perfumes. His 1931 Chevrolet wasn't much to look at but was his pride and joy in high school. The perfume belonged to Patti Lou Pope. Their first date on Don's 16th birthday started a 73-year love affair and a dynamic partnership grounded in faith, family, and community. Don and Patti were married on August 18, 1956, and recently celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary. Don then joined Sears, Roebuck, and Co. as a management trainee tasked with rolling the popcorn maker out on Congress Ave in Austin every Saturday to entice the customers in. His sales ability was evident immediately. With a new baby on the way, his father-in-law, H.G. Pope, a partner in Glosserman Chevrolet in Lockhart, arranged a meeting with mentor Charles Nash at Capital Chevrolet in Austin. Don was hired, and with that he began a long and storied career in the automobile business.
Don worked his way up in the Nash organization becoming New Car Sales Manager. Always having a dream of owning his own dealership, in 1971 he had the opportunity to become a partner in Compton Motors in Georgetown. Georgetown was a small community of 7,000 and Compton Motors was a small Chevrolet, Buick, Oldsmobile dealership one block off the town square. Don and Patti packed up their family and moved back to a small town. He believed in the personal connections, support, and sense of community that a small town provides and wanted that for his family. Under Don's leadership the dealership grew and in 1984 the name was changed to Don Hewlett Chevrolet Buick Oldsmobile, Inc. With the growth of Central Texas and the success of the Hewlett brand came new opportunities. Hewlett Volkswagen started in 2001, and other divisions followed. Today, Don Hewlett Chevrolet, Buick and Hewlett Volkswagen both rank among the largest dealerships of their brands in the Country. The Hewlett Automotive Group employs close to 400 employees, but neither sales volume nor employee count mattered most to Don. It was always about personal relationships. Every customer was a friend, and every employee was a member of the extended family. Even after retirement, Don continued to run "Papaw Motors" from their home at the Wesleyan, helping the residents trade in their "cream puffers".
With a natural enthusiasm and service heart, Don was an accomplished civic leader. Shortly after moving to Georgetown, he was appointed to the Georgetown Hospital Authority Board, lending his common-sense business acumen toward the construction of Georgetown's first new hospital. He followed that by serving as President of the Georgetown Lions Club, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, and the Rotary Club of Georgetown. He co-chaired Georgetown's 125th Anniversary celebration and was an active member of the local Shriners Club and the Masonic Lodge. Don also served on the board of the Wesleyan Homes Foundation of Georgetown. As the son of an educator and husband of an elementary school nurse, Don had a special passion for public education. He was twice elected as a Trustee on the Georgetown Independent School District Board. Don and Patti have also been long time committed members of the First United Methodist Church with Don serving on the board. In support of his profession, Don served as a representative of the Texas Automobile Dealer's Association and president of Central Texas Chevy Dealers Association. Of the accolades Hewlett received over the years, he was particularly honored by the Owen W. Sherrill Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, the Texas Family Business of the Year award from Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Williamson Museum.
Along with service to community, Don always looked for ways to extend the blessings he had received to others. Among the many organizations supported by the Hewlett Family, care for children and education top the list. These include the Helping Hand Home for Children, Dell Children's Medical Center Music Therapy program, Georgetown Public Library, Williamson County Children's Advocacy Center, CASA of Williamson County, Project Graduation, the Hewlett Automotive Scholarship Program, Capital Area Counsel Boy Scouts of America, Georgetown Youth Sports and the Central Texas Field of Honor.
Don treasured true friendships, of which there were many, travel with Patti, the love and companionship of his dogs, and time outdoors. His happy places were around a campfire on a starlit night in South Texas, watching the sun rise on the face of the Castle Mountains from the back deck of their beloved cabin outside Gunnison Colorado, and watching his grandkids swim in Lake LBJ from the porch of the Lake House. An avid Longhorn fan, Don was also a true orangeblood. First as an alum, and then in proud support of his father, Lan Hewlett who was hired by Darrell Royal to join the Longhorn coaching staff as the nation's first academic counselor dedicated to athletes. A picture of Don and 3 grandsons after the 2005 Rose Bowl national championship victory proudly hangs in his office.
Other than his faith, Don had no greater dedication than to his family. Don would never take credit for any success, big or small without recognizing his partnership with Patti and her devoted support as his one true love. He and Patti have guided their family, now some 27 strong, as examples of strength, true commitment, and unwavering support. They have also challenged and trusted the next generation to carry on with confidence.
There are a few rare men that others are attracted to because they lead with their heart, beam with optimism, listen with intention, tell a great story, carry a quiet confidence, and uplift all they meet. Don Hewlett was one of those men. To have worked for and with him meant you were appreciated and trusted. To have called him friend meant you felt his warmth, wit and encouragement. To have called him My Darling, Dad or Papaw meant you had received a blessing beyond measure and were accepted and loved unconditionally.
They may forget what you said but they will never forget how you made them feel.
-Carl W. Buehner
Remaining to carry on his legacy are his beloved wife Patti Pope Hewlett, children Don Ross Hewlett (Janet), David R. Hewlett (Erin), Kathryn Hewlett Pharr (Brad), and Michael P. Hewlett (Melanie); grandchildren Ross Hewlett, Kathryn Hewlett McWherter (Nolan), Carter Hewlett (Katie), Stephen Hewlett, Whitney Hewlett Fernea (Weston), Landon Pharr (Samantha), Emily Pharr, Ryan Hewlett (Lauren), Courtney Hewlett Sivess (Wade), and Brady Hewlett; great grandchildren Briella McWherter, Mattie McWherter, Mason Hewlett and Riley Hewlett; his treasured brother Rob Hewlett (Shirley), nephew John Hewlett (Johanna), niece Jennifer Hewlett Tew (Ron), his uncle Harry "Buzz" Hilgers and the Hilgers family. The family would also like to acknowledge the love and support of Don and Patti's lifelong best friends, Bill and Dell Clark of Lockhart.
A service to celebrate Don's life will take place on Wednesday October 23, 2024 at 10:30 AM at First United Methodist Church Georgetown 410 E. University Ave. Georgetown, Texas, led by John Hewlett, with a reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to First United Methodist Church Georgetown (building fund), or CASA of Williamson County.