Gerald R. "Gerry" Lane has been in the automobile business for over 42 years, and a dealer for over 29 years. He transferred from Los Angeles to Baton Rouge in 1957 to work at Capitol City Ford. In 1958, he went to work as General Manager for Polk Chevrolet, where he was employed until 1966. In 1966, he purchased a Chevrolet dealership in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, and then moved to Pascagoula, Mississippi, in 1968 to purchase his second Chevrolet dealership. He later added the Datsun franchise. From 1968 until 1983, Gerry owned Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, Toyota, Datsun-Nissan, Oldsmobile and GMC dealerships in Pascagoula, Lucedale, Bay St. Louis and Gonzales. In 1983, Gerry purchased a Chevrolet-Buick dealership in Gulfport, Mississippi. In 1988, he was awarded a Mitsubishi Franchise.

In February of 1987, he purchased Polk Chevrolet in Baton Rouge. In August of 1988 he became a Buick and Subaru dealer in Baton Rouge. GMC Trucks were later added at the Buick dealership.

In 1990, he formed Gerry Lane Acceptance Corporation, to finance used cars and trucks. The same year, he was awarded the Saturn of Baton Rouge franchise and completed its construction in 1991 to sell his first Saturn. In 1996, Gerry formed an advertising agency, operated by his daughter.

His many factory achievements consist of being number one in new car sales for Chevrolet in the state of Louisiana in 1992, a member of the Chevrolet Hall of Fame, a member of the Chevrolet Dealer Council for several years, a member of the Truck Honor Club, Chevrolet Sales Master, a Buick "Best in Class" dealer, number one in Saturn and Subaru sales for the state of Louisiana in 1994, number one in Buick sales in the Baton Rouge market in 1994, number one in truck sales and retail car sales in the Baton Rouge market in 1994, and numerous other sales awards.