By SUSAN BERG

Managing editor

“It’s like coming back home,” Lyle Ediger said from his desk at Midway Motors of Hillsboro.

He learned car sales from one of the best.

Joel Ediger, Lyle Ediger’s father, sold cars for Irv Schroeder County Motors in Hillsboro for 42 years.

Irv Schroeder hired Joel’s son in 1977 to recondition vehicles. Before long, the younger Ediger moved up to sales and was sales manager for 14 years.

Midway Motors of McPherson purchased the Hillsboro GM dealership from the Schroeder family about two years ago. At that time, Danny Flynn was appointed general manager of the Hillsboro operation.

A little more than two months ago, Flynn transferred to a newly acquired dealership in Hutchinson, opening the Hillsboro position. At that time, Ediger was working at another dealership when he received a phone call from Flynn.

“Danny gave me a call and asked if I would consider taking the position,” Ediger said. “I couldn’t say no. It was a good move for me and my family.”

Plans fell into place for Ediger to return to the location where his career started. Ediger knew early on in his life that he was going to be in the car business in some way and he seemed to be a natural salesman.

“I was born and raised in sales,” he said with a smile. “I have always liked cars and love talking with people.”

When Irv Schroeder County Motors was sold to Midway Motors, many long-term employees stayed — particularly in the service department. Eldon Kaiser had worked 10 years with Irv Schroeder before going to Midway Motors in McPherson where he worked for 19 years. When the McPherson company purchased the Hillsboro dealership, Kaiser came back and is also a general manager.

Ediger was born in Hillsboro and has lived in the community all of his life. He and wife Rhonda, who works at Hillsboro Community Medical Center, have three children — two daughters, Cierra of McPherson, who is married and has two children, and Candace who attends MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe; and a son, Tyler, who is a senior at Hillsboro High School.

Ediger understands the need for a business to be connected with the community it serves.

“Midway Motors believes in supporting the community,” he said. “Dollars that are earned here stay here.”

With 17 full-time employees and their families, most living in Hillsboro or elsewhere in Marion County, Ediger knows Midway Motors has made an investment in the community.

In the next 10 to 12 months, the car dealership plans to make an even larger commitment by constructing a new building on North Ash Street near U.S. 56. Local contractors will be hired to complete the project.

The car dealership has seen many changes in the past few years. The most notable is access to the Internet.

“The Internet definitely has changed the way vehicles are sold,” Ediger said.

Now potential buyers can shop from their computers. With Hillsboro Midway Motors being a part of a larger company, it allows the local dealership to have access to more vehicles.

“Through the Internet, buyers have access to more than 400 vehicles,” Ediger said.

The best part for local buyers is they can buy from and have their vehicles serviced by people they know in their community.

Even though the economy has been challenging, Ediger said sales are steady.

“We’re busy,” he said.

Ediger is happy to be “home” again and is appreciative of the support from the Hillsboro community.

“It takes community support to keep businesses like Midway Motors here in Hillsboro,” Ediger said.