Carol Stream salutes car dealer Joe Cotton on 80th birthday

CAROL STREAM – The second of November marked an important day for Joe Cotton, a staple in the Carol Stream business community, as he celebrated his 80th birthday. He’s the dealer principal behind Joe Cotton Ford.

To commemorate his contributions to the community, the village of Carol Stream declared Nov. 2 as Joe Cotton Day.

Cotton sold his first two Ford vehicles on Labor Day in 1955, at a dealership in Valparaiso, Ind. After a successful career in sales, he opened the doors to his Carol Stream dealership in 1974 and has given back to the village for the past 41 years, the news release stated.

“It’s clear that Joe Cotton does business a little differently … just take a look around his showroom,” son Paul Cotton, general manager of the dealership, said in the release. “From the rafters hang countless banners where loyal customers have signed their names upon completing purchases. It’s the dealership’s way of welcoming its customers into the Joe Cotton family.”