A couple of weeks ago we were in Texas. I had to conduct a Shop Visit at a company in New Braunfels that was performing work on some equipment from our generating unit. While we were there, we went to a lot of smaller towns in the San Antonio area looking at the old buildings, local sites, and tasting the local cuisine. We stayed in New Braunfels Tx for a couple of nights. Looking at the list of Studebaker dealers in Texas on Bob Johnstone's Studebaker reference website, we saw that Ludwig Motor Sales was a Studebaker dealer in New Braunfels, but no address was given. A trip to the local library and the computerized local newspapers quickly found the address as 300 South Seguin. According to Bob's listing, Ludwig Motors started with Studebaker in 1949. We got to the library about 45 minutes before closing time, so didn't have a lot of time to go way back but did find ads and an article as far back as 1954. According to a newspaper article in 1965, the dealership closed in 1965 and was converted into an auto parts store. Unfortunately, when we went looking for the building, it is gone - replaced by a parking lot.
Following is the obituary for Reginald Ludwig written July of 2006:
Reginald Louis Ludwig, 78, of New Braunfels, passed away July 7, 2006. A funeral service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 11, 2006 in the Zoeller Funeral Home chapel.
Rev. Lee Zillmann will officiate. Interment will follow in Comal Cemetery.
Visitation will be at Zoeller Funeral Home from 2 to 9 p.m. Monday, July 10, 2006. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m.
Mr. Ludwig died at his home following a long illness. He was born in New Braunfels on October 14, 1927 to Bruno and Linda Bartels Ludwig. On June 30, 1957, he married Edith Marie Christensen. Mr. Ludwig graduated from New Braunfels High School in 1946 where he was drum major and assistant band director. Mr. Ludwig attended the University of Texas at Austin, 1946-1949. From 1946 to 1965 he operated his family’s business, Ludwig Motor Sales, a Studebaker dealership located on Seguin Avenue. He then worked as an instructor at Gary Job Corp in San Marcos, until 1970 when he joined the teaching staff of Central Texas College in Killeen. He taught automotive education classes while he furthered his education at the American Technological University in Killeen. He completed his education with a Masters Degree from ATU and in 1984 was appointed to the position of Associate Dean of Industrial Technology. He was a member of the CTC Accreditation Team that traveled throughout the US, Germany, Mexico and Honduras. He retired from CTC in 1989 and returned to his hometown of New Braunfels. Mr. Ludwig was a member of the New Braunfels Village Band from 1941 to 1949 and the New Braunfels Village Brass Band from 1995 to 1996. He was also a partner and manager of the Hi-Toppers Polka Band from 1951 to 1970. He directed the SPJST Slavonic Lodge Polka Band in Seaton, Texas, from 1971 to 1974. In addition to his participation in musical organizations, he was a member of the New Braunfels Volunteer Fire Dept. from 1962 to 1970 (Vice President in 1970) and served as president of the River Oaks Homeowners Assoc.
Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Edith Ludwig of New Braunfels; two daughters, Rhonda Alexander and husband Nick and their son Ross of San Marcos and Reneé Morrill and husband Sean of Harker Heights; a son, Royd Ludwig and wife Kathy and their two daughters, Shaelyn and Talia of Little Elm. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Hope Hospice of New Braunfels.
Here are a bunch of neat ads plus one article that were pulled out of the paper. They start in late '54 and go thru '64. We used my wife's phone to take pictures of the computer screen. But they are neat to read. Keep double-clicking on an image until the large version comes up. Enjoy!
Following is the obituary for Reginald Ludwig written July of 2006:
Reginald Louis Ludwig, 78, of New Braunfels, passed away July 7, 2006. A funeral service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 11, 2006 in the Zoeller Funeral Home chapel.
Rev. Lee Zillmann will officiate. Interment will follow in Comal Cemetery.
Visitation will be at Zoeller Funeral Home from 2 to 9 p.m. Monday, July 10, 2006. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m.
Mr. Ludwig died at his home following a long illness. He was born in New Braunfels on October 14, 1927 to Bruno and Linda Bartels Ludwig. On June 30, 1957, he married Edith Marie Christensen. Mr. Ludwig graduated from New Braunfels High School in 1946 where he was drum major and assistant band director. Mr. Ludwig attended the University of Texas at Austin, 1946-1949. From 1946 to 1965 he operated his family’s business, Ludwig Motor Sales, a Studebaker dealership located on Seguin Avenue. He then worked as an instructor at Gary Job Corp in San Marcos, until 1970 when he joined the teaching staff of Central Texas College in Killeen. He taught automotive education classes while he furthered his education at the American Technological University in Killeen. He completed his education with a Masters Degree from ATU and in 1984 was appointed to the position of Associate Dean of Industrial Technology. He was a member of the CTC Accreditation Team that traveled throughout the US, Germany, Mexico and Honduras. He retired from CTC in 1989 and returned to his hometown of New Braunfels. Mr. Ludwig was a member of the New Braunfels Village Band from 1941 to 1949 and the New Braunfels Village Brass Band from 1995 to 1996. He was also a partner and manager of the Hi-Toppers Polka Band from 1951 to 1970. He directed the SPJST Slavonic Lodge Polka Band in Seaton, Texas, from 1971 to 1974. In addition to his participation in musical organizations, he was a member of the New Braunfels Volunteer Fire Dept. from 1962 to 1970 (Vice President in 1970) and served as president of the River Oaks Homeowners Assoc.
Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Edith Ludwig of New Braunfels; two daughters, Rhonda Alexander and husband Nick and their son Ross of San Marcos and Reneé Morrill and husband Sean of Harker Heights; a son, Royd Ludwig and wife Kathy and their two daughters, Shaelyn and Talia of Little Elm. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Hope Hospice of New Braunfels.
Here are a bunch of neat ads plus one article that were pulled out of the paper. They start in late '54 and go thru '64. We used my wife's phone to take pictures of the computer screen. But they are neat to read. Keep double-clicking on an image until the large version comes up. Enjoy!
Comment