First Women Employees

Reed Brothers Dodge has a long and proud history of welcoming women into its workforce, going back to the company’s earliest years. At a time when female employees were uncommon in the automotive industry, the dealership recognized the skills, dedication, and reliability women brought to the business.

In the 1920s, Reed Brothers Dodge hired women for important administrative and clerical roles. Among the earliest were:

• Evelyn (Beane) Norris served as an Administrative Secretary at Reed Brothers, continuing a family tradition of dedication to the dealership. Her commitment paved the way for her daughter, Evelyn B. Norris, who joined the company as a Clerk in 1944, carrying forward the family’s legacy in the early years of the business.

• Mary Anna (Slater) Beall, a Rockville native and graduate of Richard Montgomery High School, worked as the Bookkeeper for Reed Brothers Dodge. She later married “Bud” Leonard Beall, an employee in the dealership’s paint shop, creating one of many family ties that helped define the company culture.

As the country transitioned out of wartime in the mid-1940s, women continued to hold essential positions at Reed Brothers.

• Evelyn B. Norris, daughter of Evelyn (Beane) Norris and wife of fellow employee John W. Norris, worked as a Clerk, continuing both her family’s and her husband’s connection to the business.

• Mildred E. (Fraley) Stang began her career at Reed Brothers Dodge in 1945 as a Stock Clerk in the Parts Department. Her connection to the dealership ran deep. She was the daughter of Alfred Lloyd Fraley, one of the original auto mechanics at the Rockville Garage. With a legacy rooted in the early days of the automobile, Mildred continued the family tradition by becoming an integral part of the dealership’s post-war operations.

• Rose (Gloyd) Finneyfrock: A Name to Remember

Rose (Gloyd) Finneyfrock

Few employees made as lasting an impression as Rose (Gloyd) Finneyfrock, who served as an Administrative Secretary and later as an Officer of the company. Her career at Reed Brothers Dodge spanned more than 30 years—placing her among a select group of employees who worked at both the original location at the triangle of Veirs Mill Road and Rockville Pike, and the later site at 15955 Frederick Road.

According to the Montgomery County Sentinel on August 26, 1954, Rose Marie Gloyd married Dudley Wilson Finneyfrock, the son of I. J. Finneyfrock of Olney, further cementing her place in the company’s extended family history.

A Lasting Legacy

These women were not just employees—they were part of the foundation of Reed Brothers Dodge. Their hard work, loyalty, and professionalism helped shape the character of the business across decades. From bookkeeping and clerical work to parts management and leadership roles, their impact is still remembered today.

Reed Brothers Dodge was always more than a dealership—it was a place where people, including generations of dedicated women, helped build something that stood the test of time.