DALLAS -- Jimmy Olen Bishop, credited as one of the early creators of the aftermarket automotive industry, passed away Sunday, Nov. 28, at his home in Highland Park, Texas. He was 80 years old.

Bishop, a well-known Dallas businessman and the founder of Bishop International Inc., started his career in 1949 from the bed of a Chevrolet pickup truck. At the age of 19, he drove from one salvage yard to another across the country buying automotive engines, parts and components. He would then return to his small facility in Dallas, Texas, where a few employees would strip down the engines and sell them back to automotive parts rebuilders. That humble business model, over time, gave rise to what is now known as the automotive aftermarket industry. Bishop created and sold more than 50 companies in the same industry and was the first to manufacture many of the aftermarket auto parts that now supply automotive retail stores and rebuilders across the nation.

Today, Bishop International is one of the world's largest independent distributors of new and remanufactured automotive components. Bishop's son Jeff currently serves as the company's principal owner and president and will continue in that capacity, following the business principals established by his father.

Funeral services were held today in the Sparkman-Hillcrest Northwest Highway Chapel in Dallas.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked donations to be made to the East Dallas Masonic Lodge No. 1200 at 500 South Harwood Street, Dallas Texas, or to the Jimmy Bishop Foundation. The 501C3 Foundation is being established in the name of Jimmy Bishop to help supply North Texas food banks, particularly during the holiday season.