Myers-Duren Harley-Davidson:
The Oldest Harley Dealer in
Oklahoma Celebrates Its 95th Anniversary
By: Half-Pint
This photo was taken Easter Sunday, 1949, of the dealership when it was located on
917 East 2nd Street and was called Tulsa Motor & Cycle Co.
Reading that title, you may be thinking it’s a 1973, Lowell and Reba Duren, two educators, high heels in the parking lot. You didn’t see a
misprint, but no, Myers-Duren Harley-Davidson in were thirsty for something to ignite their spirits and woman on a motorcycle very often back then.”
Tulsa, Oklahoma is celebrating its 95th anniver- found motorcycling. Within a few years they Invigorated by their new found passion the
sary this October. This is the oldest dealership in owned four motorcycles between the two of Durens decided to look for a dealership to pur-
Oklahoma and, unofficially, the 3rd oldest in the them. Reba, a schoolteacher, recalls, “I used to chase and change their way of life altogether. After
world. How’s that for longevity! ride up to the school on my motorcycle with my looking into dealerships for multiple brands,
The founders, Ward and Virgil Eby originally boots on over my stockings and change into my Honda, Yamaha, and BMW for example, the
opened their dealership in 1912 and carried the
short lived Excelsior motorcycles. With a change
of address, and pace in 1914, they brought in
Harley-Davidson motorcycles. And as the saying
goes, “The rest is history.”
Business boomed as Harley-Davidson built it-
self up as a company and began producing more
and more cycles per year, putting everything they
had into marketing, setting the foundation for what
Harley is today. In 1949 after several location
changes with the Eby’s, the namesake Glen
“Dutch” Myers purchased the dealership and
moved the location yet again to 11th and Hous-
ton in Tulsa. Dutch was an excellent businessman
and the kind of guy you’re proud to know. He built
up the business, the name, and the Harley brand
in Oklahoma, before his passing in 1974, when
his son took over the dealership.
Halfway across the country, and fast forward to Myers-Duren at its present location.
Wide Open 55
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