FEATURED COVER STORY
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Kawasaki-Suzuki of Rome by Jimmy Lemaster
immy Lemaster has lived in Rome, Georgia, his whole
there until just before their first son Jason was born in 1979.
life. In 1976, Lemaster married his wife, Denise.
The Cycle Specialist was known for motorcycle repairs,
Together the Lemasters have two sons, Jason and
parts, and accessories.
Kris, along with six grandchildren. All of the grandchildren
By 1983, Kawasaki of Rome was sold to George and
love to ride and hangout at their grandparent’s dealership,
Byron Swinford, who wanted Lemaster’s shop to merge
Kawasaki-Suzuki of Rome.
with Kawasaki of Rome in 1984. Lemaster purchased
Fifty years in the powersports industry—doing what you love and loving what you do—all started when a few high
Kawasaki of Rome from his partners and became the full owner of the dealership in 1988.
school and church friends would ride their motorcycles to
In 1988, it was only Lemaster’s wife, Denise, and one
school and church. That is when Lemaster decided he had
mechanic operating the dealership. The dealership has now
to have his own motorcycle. When Lemaster was in the
expanded to ten employees. Kawasaki Motor Corporation
eleventh grade, he drove his Harley Davidson 350 to the Harley Dealership and the Honda Dealership to ask for a job. Lemaster landed an after-school job at the Honda Dealership in 1971, working for George and Gennett Swinford. A few years later, Lemaster opened his own shop called Cycle Specialist. The shop was located on Dean Street in an old gas station. The Lemasters made the back of the store into a small living space. The Lemasters stayed
22 // August 2021
