Al Maroone, whose stores helped build AutoNation, dies at 98 Al Maroone, whose stores helped build AutoNation, dies at 98 February 19, 2021 dzadmin Comments 0 Comment Maroone bought a small Ford dealership in 1955 by borrowing from his father’s life savings, his sister’s pension and his father-in-law’s remortgage. His son Mike was later AutoNation’s longtime COO.