In 1913 the automobile became a reality. Mr. Rizer had the first and largest supply and sales of any dealer in South Carolina. Due to his tremendous business it required 15 clerks to handle his merchandise and auto trade.
Due to economic recession in 1914 cotton sold for as little as 3˝ cents a pound. There was hardly a cotton market, this being the main source of income. Henry Ford nevertheless was wanting to expand his auto manufacturing. Not having the capital to expand, he called Mr. Rizer asking if he had any money to spare. With full confidence in the Ford car and automobile industry he lent $25,000 to Mr. Ford. That year Ford sold half a million cars and Ford Industry was on the way!
The same year, Rizer Auto Company as it was known, received the largest single shipment of cars in Bamberg County. It took a train with one-half mile of car boxes to bring the vehicles from Detroit to Olar. The train measured 2,880 feet not counting the engine and caboose. There were 64 car boxes, each bearing four Ford cars. The 256 cars arrived in Olar in March and the last one sold in November. These cars had to be assembled and put together for a contract price of $15 a car.
Mr. Rizer was able to outsell other dealers because he had sufficient capital to sell on credit. Henry Ford awarded Mr. Rizer the exclusive franchise to sell Fords in Bamberg, Barnwell, Colleton, Hampton, and Allendale counties. Mr. Rizer would put his salesmen on the road in the four county area and the cars would sell quickly. It was not uncommon to sell as many as 10 cars a day.
In July 1920 Mr. Rizer placed a full-page ad for "Rizer Auto Company of Olar" advising all of his intention to discontinue his activity in all other lines. He said the company would be concentrating on Ford sedan, Ford Campelets, Ford Touring Cars, Ford Runabouts and Ford trucks exclusively. In October of this same year he began advertising and selling Fordson farm tractors.
Mr. Rizer passed away in 1950 at the age of 81 and is buried in the Starr Cemetery located in Olar, South Carolina.