New life is breathed into the old McWhirter Auto building

MT. PLEASANT — C&M Cooling Heating & Plumbing excitedly took possession of the vacant McWhirter Auto Sales building, Tuesday morning.

McWhirter Chevrolet Buick was a staple in the Mt. Pleasant Community for many years following it’s opening in 1972, but in recent years, the building and lot have sat vacant.

Following Gene McWhirter’s passing in June, his children Matt McWhirter and Melissa Pietz found a bit of joy in selling the building to family friends, Willy and Pat Callaway with C&M Cooling Heating & Plumbing.

The Callaway and McWhirter families go way back, and much of the morning was spent remembering Gene McWhirter.

According to his family and the Callaways, Gene McWhirter was passionate about being involved in the community and creating camaraderie between small business owners in the area.

“Gene was a real driving force,” Pat Callaway said.

“He loved people and he wanted to be involved,” Willy McWhirter said.

Matt McWhirter told a story of how his dad called his business friends one day with a simple message, “We’re going to start a small business group,” and promised more information.

He then called the next gentleman in there group, who happened be sitting on a bar stool next to the first and relayed the exact same message.

Mentoring Willy Callaway was a highlight for Gene McWhirter.

“The dad [Gene McWhirter] got along with my son [Willy] real good right up until the day he died,” said Pat Callaway. “They would talk with each other on the phone even when he was up in Iowa City. His dad was just so thrilled he could help get some young guy involved in business.”

“When he [Gene McWhirter] went out in the end, he felt like he had accomplished what he wanted, and how many people can say that,” Pat Callaway said.

Now that the torch has been passed, and the Callaways have the keys, the next step is a remodel.

The dust needs cleared, updates need made, and the bubbled floor is in dire need of help.

“It was almost left like a turnkey business,” Willy Callaway said. “It looked like they just left one day and there were still stacks of papers.”

McWhirter has worked on clearing out the space for the last three weeks in preparation for the sale.

“We still had a fully stocked parts room,” McWhirter said.

“Willy is just really excited,” Pat Callaway said. “He is like a kid in a candy shop.”

“We’re hoping to use this as an opportunity to move our business, C&M Plumbing, which is down by the courthouse, now,” Willy Callaway said.

He doesn’t foresee using the whole facility for C&M, but will find other ways to utilize the additional space.

Joined by Gene McWhirter’s wife, Kathie McWhirter, smiles and laughter filled the show room.

Kathie McWhirter recalled how Mt. Pleasant News was present when she and her husband took the keys to this building back in 1972, and she was excited to hand the keys to Willy Callaway for a new chapter.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com