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This man has his last name scrolled all across the western part of Iowa, the eastern part of Nebraska, and the southern part of South Dakota. Yes, these parts have produced several star athletes who have left footprints and namesakes all around town reminding us of their greatness, but this man is different. He is a family man, one involved with all aspects of the community and a person that wants to make Sioux City great.
The elegant writing of his name is stamped on cars throughout the city and beyond. Bruce Zook is the President and owner of Charlie Zook motors on East 6th street. He came to Sioux City when he was 7 years old after living in Lawrence, Kansas. Upon graduating high school, Bruce enrolled at USD for one semester before deciding to transfer to Morningside to get his Business degree and Mass Communication minor. Bruce has strong ties to the Morningside community and school.
“Back when I went to school at Morningside College, it was a very different place. The school had the two dorms but actually used one section of Roadman just as storage space for extra dorm equipment. Now the college has really grown into something nice.”
The school and the community in recent times have truly grown up together and that has never been more evident now. Morningside College is producing National Champion quality teams year in and year out and companies such as Olive Garden and Texas Roadhouse are bringing their businesses into the city. Morningside college made a lot of changes after being a member of the NCAA to now being a member of the NAIA.
“I played on the tennis team at Morningside and I don’t even think we had a budget to play the sport. Everything was out of pocket and we didn’t compete with any team in our conference.”
Bruce Zook currently sits on a board of Sioux City where the main objective is to bring people and corporations into the heart of Sioux City and make it a hub of products for everyone. Sioux City has competition in Omaha and Sioux Falls but that hasn’t stopped the spirit of Sioux City citizens to continue to draw people into our city. Having the city be the opening ceremonies for the annual Ragbrai bike ride really gave outsiders a chance to take a peak at all the changes here.
“I love to ride my bike around the trails here. Sioux City has continued to do a nice job at constructing new trails and the hills provide the perfect challenge for an afternoon bike ride. People sometimes just don’t realize all the things Sioux City has to offer.”
Curtis Anderson, a friend of Bruce Zook has gotten to know Bruce very well while producing his daily sports show at Charlie Zook Motors. “ Bruce has such a passion for Sioux City, and a passion for sports that makes him an easy person to get along with. Every time I am out with him people are stopping to have a chat with him and he seems to know everyone.” Steve Bates also states, “ It is so easy to give Bruce a hard time and he can certainly dish it back. He has so much pride in his family owned business and cares a great deal about getting Sioux City everything the city deserves.”
Your typical car dealer will want to wheel and deal you to get product out of the door. Bruce Zook will want to know your family, where the kids go to school, what sports they play, and how he can help you get them to those sports. He embodies the type of person you would want to represent your city at any conference in Iowa. He has the competitive spirit to get after things but also the personality to get to know you and make another friend. His witty commercials on tv and radio give only a glimpse of the man with the clever calligraphy, probably on the very car you drive.