Doug Williams and His Final 500 Aurora
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DOUG WILLIAMS AND HIS FINAL 500 AURORA Also in this issue: More Chapter members tell about their Final 500 Olds Who Am I – See if you can guess Special guest speakers for our monthly meetings Editor’s message……. 2014 R. E. Olds Chapter Board of Directors As you read this issue, I hope you appreciate the efforts of the several members that provided stories. I contacted all of our members who have a Final 500 car President listed with the Chapter, and requested a story about their special car. This April Bruce Powelson will be 10 years since Oldsmobile closed their assembly line. The response was H 517-548-2793 overwhelming and I even have one story for the next issue. C 517-331-3560 [email protected] This year is also the 50th anniversary of the 442 and all other 1964 models. If you have a 1964 Oldsmobile please consider sending me a picture and article for the Vice-President newsletter. This is a special milestone and I would love to fill the pages with Chris Heminger stories of your 50-year old Oldsmobile. I look forward to hearing from you. 517-655-3514 [email protected] Until we meet again……….keep those rockets rolling and stories coming, Secretary Judy Badgley Ed Shand 517-655-4739 Send newsletter articles, classifieds, etc. to Judy Badgley at [email protected] [email protected] or 4631 Doane Hwy., Potterville, MI 48876 Treasurer Jerry Garfield 248-881-3619 President’s message….. [email protected] This was our first meeting of the New Year, January's meeting having been Membership Coordinator cancelled due to extreme weather conditions. Prior to the regular membership Don Cooper meeting, we held our first Board meeting. The meeting was a bit long, intruding 517-290-7455 on start time for the membership meeting, but among things accomplished, the [email protected] group with unanimous support determined to donate to the R. E. Olds Museum $2,000 for its benefit. During the regular membership meeting, Museum Director OCA Representative Bill Adcock graciously accepted this gift. At the membership meeting, we held a Eva Cooper full house and everyone contributed to the business at hand. Two-thousand 517-290-8451 envelopes were stuffed [and some re-stuffed] for our annual Homecoming [email protected] mailing. A great time was had by all. We also wished snowbirds would bring warm weather upon their return to the Michigan Tundra. Past President Bruce Powelson Vicki May 616-250-1568 [email protected] By-Laws Coordinator Troy Collins 517-646-0879 [email protected] Board members are elected for a one-year period of time at the Annual Banquet Meeting. Officers assume their office beginning January 1st of the subsequent year in which they are elected. General Club meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of the month at various locations, but usually at the R. E. Olds Museum in Lansing. Contact Bruce Powelson at the number shown above for more information. Members hard at work (30 helped) preparing the Homecoming flyers for the mailing. 2 NEWSWORTHY CHAPTER “STUFF” R. E. Olds Chapter April is “Volunteer Appreciation” month. On April 14, the R. E. Olds Museum will be hosting Calendar of Events a reception as a “Thank You” to all that dedicate so much of their time and efforts to improve the April- museum. 1 Board Meeting 6 PM Jim Walkinshaw was one of the museum’s strong Chapter Meeting 7 PM volunteers and served the museum in many ways. R. E. Olds Museum He was also a strong supporter of our Chapter. (Not an April Fools Joke) After his passing last year, the members of our Chapter decided that we wanted to do Guest Speaker, something for the museum as a memorial/tribute to Jim. A committee was formed to Michigan Counties make a decision as the best way to honor Jim. We decided to have a brass plaque made Details on pg11 with Jim’s image on his Curved Dash and present it to the museum to be displayed in the Curved Dash exhibit that was Jim’s final volunteer service to the museum. 14 Walkinshaw Memorial At this Monday night event, all members of the R. E. Olds Chapter are invited to the Plaque Dedication museum for this presentation. The event begins at 6 PM and lasts about 2 hours. R. R. Olds Museum The Chapter, in an effort to help the museum, has also volunteered to provide Details on this page. desserts for the evening festivities. This can be in the form of cookies, cakes, pies, May- fruit, etc. If you would like to provide a dessert for this event, please contact Judy 6 Chapter Meeting 7 PM Badgley at [email protected] or 517-256-2336 and indicate what you will be R. E. Olds Museum bringing. Guest Speaker, Ride On Appraisals Details on pg.6 OLDSMOBILE HOMECOMING NEEDS YOU June- 3 Chapter Meeting 7 PM The Homecoming Committee is coming along with plans for this great show. We are R. E, Olds Museum getting a good response from Final 500 car owners as well as the 1964 442’s, both of which will be featured this year. We are also going to have live music in addition to 14 OLDSMOBILE our DJ. The musicians are GM retirees and will be providing some great entertainment HOMECOMING for all of us. Volunteers Needed With the planning well underway, we do need your help. Call Judy Badgley @ 1. If you haven’t already, fill out and send in your registration form. This really 517-645-7438 to help helps relieve the last minute data entry for Ed. 2. While you are doing your spring cleaning, keep an eye out for things related to Oldsmobile (parts, literature, Oldsmobilia, etc.) that you can donate to the VOLUNTEER Homecoming auction. Steve likes to know ahead of time what he has available NEEDED to sell. Call him at 517-927-7715 or email him at [email protected] Several years ago 3. Contact Judy Badgley to volunteer a couple of hours of your time. We need Chapter member help from 6PM Friday night to 4PM Saturday. There are sit-down jobs and Wayne Mason set up our fantastic stand-up jobs. The earlier you volunteer, the more opportunities for job website www.reolds.org Since selection. Call 517-645-7438 or email [email protected] that time he has updated and OLD MAN WINTER REALLY GOT TO OUR MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN maintained the site. He is ready This was sent to us by Don Cooper on January 31 (8° day), after a month of cold! for a “break” and has asked for Chapter Members and Their Birthdays, a Study of Cause and Effect. someone else to step up. The Effect/Birth month # of Chapter Birthdays Cause person will need to know how or January 15 birthdays Spring had sprung had to start a new crop. learn to use Microsoft Front Page February 14 birthdays June Brides. Nothing else can be said. software. Wayne will be glad to March 23 birthdays Celebrate July 4th with a bang. answer any questions for anyone April 9 birthdays August just to hot. May 13 birthdays September starts the new model run. interested in taking over this job. June 21 birthdays October-cold season-stay warm. Please contact Wayne at July 19 birthdays November was Thanksgiving, family time. [email protected] or Ed Shand August 20 birthdays Ho Ho Ho played Santa Claus. at [email protected] need September 22 birthdays New Years Eve caught up with you. someone to come forward and October 20 birthdays February was too cold to go outside. help with this critical part of our November1 5 Birthdays Celebrate St. Patty's Day. What a party. communication system. December 16 birthday Another dependent for next year. 3 WHO AM I I grew up in Cleveland Ohio. My knew there was something I was sold the 1964. When my son was old father operated a service station and supposed to do a few days ago.” That’s enough to drive, the “show cars” were my uncle was a new car dealer until how I discovered I was now a District mostly Chevrolet Camaros and Pontiac 1958. My mother forced piano lessons Service Manager in the Boston Zone. Firebirds. on me hoping I would become a First District had me headquartered From April through November 1993, I concert pianist but I became an auto near Hartford, Connecticut, and in phased out my Oldsmobile mechanic working first in service January of 1972 we moved to Canton, responsibilities and was part of the GM stations then Dowd Oldsmobile in Massachusetts because now I also had Corporation service organization. First Cleveland Heights in 1966. I made the metro Boston. In early July 1980 I had assignment was being part of a group mistake of falling in love with a lady a phone call from my former charged with implementing the from “New York” in 1967. The next supervisor (when in Lansing in 1968- electronic publishing of service stop was working for Acey Oldsmobile 70) asking why I wasn’t in Lansing on information, then a new EPA in Manhattan (Harlem) first as a July 1? I asked why should I be and he requirement. After helping write the mechanic, then assistant service laughed saying I was working for him requirements and our testing the manager and then service manager all again effective July 1. Actually I was system, I was given the task of within ten months. (No, I wasn’t that supposed to work for his service converting carry-over data into good, the dealership had high manual supervisor but he was electronic form from paper using turnover.) hospitalized before I got there.