Eddie Keefer

Photo by David Hager Photography.

By Kristen Uppercue

Logan, WV, native Eddie Keefer dreamed of being a professional salesperson at a young age.

“As a child, I can remember working a part-time job cutting grass on a hill that overlooked a car dealership. One day, as I watched the salespeople wearing dress clothes and ties acting very professional walking around talking to customers, I decided at that moment that’s what I wanted to be,” says Keefer, president of Keefer’s Powersports and Mountain State Harley-Davidson.

When he got older, Keefer worked at that same car dealership doing general labor, car detailing and running parts until eventually becoming an entry level salesperson.

In July 1988, he started as a professional salesperson at L&S Chevrolet in Chapmanville, where he became a sales manager and then general manager—a career path he says helped him gain the knowledge and skills needed to run a large, successful automotive dealership.

“I had become and surpassed the professional salesperson role I had wanted since being a child, but this still wasn’t enough,” Keefer says. “My dreams became bigger and now I was focused on becoming an owner.”

Keefer currently owns three corporations—Keefer’s Powersports, which he opened in January 2000; Keefer’s Rentals, which he started in January 2014 and Mountain State Harley-Davidson in Delbarton, which he opened in April 2015.

“My greatest professional achievement is being able to purchase my first dealership at a young age,” Keefer says. “Working my way up from a grass cutter at the age of 12 to an owner of one dealership at age 35 and purchasing a second at age 48 has definitely been my dream come true moment.”

Through these positions, Keefer strives to give back to local organizations and events to strengthen his community.

He is a current board member of the Hatfield & McCoy Convention & Visitors Bureau and a current member of the Southern Appalachian H.O.G. Chapter. Keefer is also a current member of Cornerstone Family Fellowship Church, where he is actively involved in youth activities and volunteers as a Sunday school teacher. He also works continuously with Southern West Virginia Community & Technical College to help improve education in the area.

At his dealerships, Keefer hosts several community centered events, including blood drives for the American Red Cross, Thanksgiving food drives, Christmas toy drives, annual trunk or treat events, Easter egg hunts, free pictures with Santa, drive-in movie nights, chili cook-off competitions, blessing of the bikes at the beginning of each riding season and an annual first responders’ event. All donations or fees collected are donated to charity.

Keefer is a previous sponsor of the annual Thunder in the Mountain’s Poker Run for the Mudd Buddies Foundation, a foundation for adults and children with disabilities to help provide funds and equipment needed to safely ride and enjoy the area’s off-road trail system.

He also previously volunteered for the Children’s Home Society of West Virginia’s WE CAN program and served as a board member of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System, the largest off-road trail system on the East Coast.

“Giving back gives me a sense of purpose to help charities work toward creating a society that benefits everyone,” Keefer says. “I give back in hopes of improving my community and hometown and making it a better place. It feels good to help someone in need.”

Keefer says his family is what keeps him motivated. In fact, his family is part of the operation—Keefer’s wife, Angela, serves as vice president and helps run the day-to-day operations in their businesses. His son, Shane, began working at Keefer’s Powersports at 12 years old and currently serves as general manager of the organization. His daughter, Katelin, serves as the graphic design manager, ad design manager and marketing manager. His daughter-in-law, Staci, serves as human resource manager, payroll clerk and event coordinator.

“We are a small-town, family owned and operated dealership that loves and serves our community to the best of our ability,” Keefer says.