Prominent Tampa auto CEO dies

TAMPA — Tampa auto executive Jeffrey Wooley, who got into the business by selling Chevrolets in Jacksonville in 1965, has died after a brief illness.

Wooley died Sept. 17; he was 67.

Wooley had been on the board of directors at Asbury Automotive Group since 1998. Duluth, Ga.-based Asbury has made significant investments in Tampa-area auto dealerships over the past few years, including a $16.8 million acquisition of multiple properties in 2011. Wooley was president and CEO of Asbury's Courtesy Automotive Group in Tampa from 1998 through 2005. He was non-executive chairman from 2005 to 2010, according to a release.