Dalyn Figgins has roots that run deep in Southwest Kansas.
"I grew up in Johnson," Figgins said. "I was born and raised, and graduated from high school there. I went to vo-tech school at Northwest Kansas Area Vocational Technical School in Goodland, Kans., and graduated from there."
Following vo-tech school, Figgins was back in Hugoton.
"I never got very far from home," he said. "My first job was in Hugoton. I worked there for three years."
Figgins knew the guy who ran the body shop in nearby Johnson. And, it was because of him Figgins got his start.
"He was bound and determined he was going to move, and he was bound and determined I was going to buy his shop," Figgins said. "I was 21 years old and I didn't have anything, but I was able to buy that shop - that's how I got started."
Figgins did not enter the venture alone.
"I grew up a farm boy working on the farm with my dad," Figgins said. "In 1992, dad and I went in to business together. It wasn't long and we started expanding: bigger, better - all that good stuff. We decided to move the business to Ulysses in 1994."
When asked what sets his business apart, Figgins said it's "time".
"We've been doing it so long that first and foremost - it's a passion," Figgins said. "It's not really a job. It's something I love and call it work - that's exactly what I do. It's not a job - it's fun."
Precision Auto Body offers PDR - paintless dent repair, collision repair, auto glass, and windshield repair.
"We have a team of people who come in whenever we get a big hail storm, which thankfully hasn't been for awhile - when it hits, it's not good," Figgins said. "We also do full collision repair, windshield and auto glass."
Figgins is a firm believer in the "word of mouth" philosophy.
"I think word of mouth is one of the best forms of advertising," he said. "We have been here for so long you can open the phone book, close your eyes, and point at somebody. Call them - there is a good chance we have worked on their car. We have strived since 1990 to always offer prompt, professional service with pride - that goes a long way."
Figgins has had his business for 33 years now and his reason for getting in is the reason he stays.
"I just love working on cars," Figgins said. "It was always an interest for me."
It's deeper than that.
"It's home," Figgins said. "My roots are here. If you have spent your whole life here, you know everybody. It's a small community. I have heard people griping about Ulysses saying they want to move away, but how many people go off somewhere and then they can't wait to get home? Until you are kind of slapped in the face with it, you don't realize what you have here. Then you realize where you came from and you're excited to get back."
Precision Auto Body is not quite as big as it once was.
"At one time, I had nine employees," Figgins said. "Everything was blowing and going. You can't find help any more - nobody wants to move to Ulysses, Kansas."
He and his father worked in the business together until his dad retired in 2008.
"When he retired, I moved to the front office," Figgins said. "Since then, we've gone through four to five different employees."
Today there are only three: Figgins, Jason Bachhofer and Figgins' son, Craig. Downsizing has not stopped Figgins from offering the best service possible, and the business continues to do well.
"The quality of work has to be at a certain level or it's not going to cut it," Figgins said. "After going through several years of (staffing challenges) - that' is why Jason is running the front now. It allowed me to come back here and go back to work in the shop, which I like better anyway."
Figgins brought Jason on board in 2022.
"He's been here about eight months now," Figgins said. "A lot of people were used to seeing me up front," Figgins said. "He manages it, but I'm still here - I'm just in the back painting- it's what I like doing the most."
Figgins' son, Craig, has been working there for the past 16 years.
"We know what we are doing," Figgins said. "We make a good team. We know what is expected for a job to be done right and 99 percent of the time people are happy."
Figgins has no desire to expand again.
"In 2010, we used to have this building here and where Chris Warner is now - we had that shop over there, too," he said. "We had a mechanic shop, alignment, tire sales and other services over there. Collision repair was over here. We got big and now we're small. After 33 years in business and taking care of so many people for so long - there is your clientele right there. If you just take care of them, they will stay."
According to Figgins, customers expect what they offer: prompt, professional service with pride.
"Precision Auto Body comes first," he said. "No matter when it is, if there is something not done right or if it’s not done and ready to go - I'm down here taking care of those customers. Customers are always the number one priority. If you don’t take care of them, you’re not going to have a business."
Figgins said even though their hours are listed as 8 am to 5 p.m., that is not always the case.
"We’re not an 8-5 job," he said. "I don’t know how many nights I've been here until late. Whatever it takes to get those jobs done. Customers need and want their cars back."
Precision Auto Body was survived Covid 19.
"We lost some employees because of Covid,"Figgins said. "The biggest problem though was parts and shipping - there were problems worldwide. Nobody wanted to go to work. There was nobody to bring our parts. They would sit around on the dock for a week before we got them. The turn around time extended because of that. Everybody talks about the new normal, I hope it doesn’t last forever, but life is different now. But all you can do is the best you can do, and go from there."
Figgins said he plans to have Precision Auto Body as his retirement.
"I spent all of those years building the business," he said. "I plan to be here at least another 10 years."
And while he's painting, Figgins also supports local ventures.
"If it's local - I'm all about doing it," he said.
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