Big Boy Hester, a Round Rock Treasure, Retires After 63 Years of Business!

Gail “Big Boy” Hester was born and raised in Round Rock and opened Hester’s Automotive 63 years ago at the age of 22. He has been a pivotal figure in the Round Rock community, an advocate for small businesses, and even played a crucial role in bringing the Round Rock Express to the area. It is because of his love of baseball and dedication to the community that the City of Round Rock created the Big Boy Hester Family Field at the reopening of Memorial Park on July 20, 2024.

Fondly known as the Unofficial Mayor of Round Rock, Big Boy’s legacy continues to inspire and drive community efforts. His contributions to the community were recognized by the City of Round Rock by awarding Big Boy with the Local Legend award in 2002 and the Chamber honored him with the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.

Since 1987, Big Boy has hosted the Big Boy Hester Fundraising Fishing Trip which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Round Rock Chamber and the YMCA. Each year, the Chamber recognizes an outstanding Round Rock small business with the Big Boy Hester Small Business of the Year and we’ll continue to do so long after his well-deserved retirement.

We want to express our deepest appreciation for Big Boy Hester for not only his generous donations to the Chamber, but for being a longstanding supporter, leader, and advocate for the Round Rock community. His unwavering support and commitment have greatly enriched the Chamber and the entire business community. 

Congratulations, Big Boy!

A prior article about Big Boy’s contributions is located at: https://roundrockchamber.org/a-round-rock-treasure-big-boy-hester/