Interesting Phone Call RE: Famous Studebaker Photo

[BobPalma]

I had an interesting telephone call Sunday evening from one Peter Gorka of Logansport (IIRC) IN. Peter's father, Raymond, was an Instrument Technician at Studebaker.

Peter reported that his Father, Raymond, is the Studebaker employee driving the 1960 Lark with running light up front, out the snowy Studebaker Gate #1 near the Machine Shop in that famous December 9, 1963 photo that accompanied most of the day's accounts of Studebaker's impending South Bend demise:



We've all seen that photo and I'm sure I have it somewhere, so if someone has it handy, please post.

Peter, who called me, was 11 years old when his Dad was among the many who lost their jobs upon Studebaker's closing. His father, Raymond, had 23 years' seniority at Studebaker as of the plant's closing. Ray got a job with a small machine shop in Elkhart shortly after Studebaker released him. Ray stayed at that shop a short time until Cummins leased (or bought, I don't know which) the Studebaker foundry and renamed it Great Lakes Foundry. Then, Ray got a job there as an Instrument Repairman / Technician until he was of retirement age. Ray passed away many years ago.

Peter is an only child and is trying to find someone who can identify the passenger with his father in the Lark that day as they left the plant. To date, Peter has drawn a blank in that search.

Peter said his Dad harbored no ill will toward Studebaker and was proud to have worked there.

A nice conversation, to be sure. BP

[8E45E]

Here in this group of photos in the '1960's' section: https://studebakermuseum.org/archive...baker-history/

And here: http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...ember-9th-1963

Craig

[8E45E]

Ray got a job with a small machine shop in Elkhart shortly after Studebaker released him. Ray stayed at that shop a short time until Cummins leased (or bought, I don't know which) the Studebaker foundry and renamed it Great Lakes Foundry. Then, Ray got a job there as an Instrument Repairman / Technician until he was of retirement age.

Peter said his Dad harbored no ill will toward Studebaker and was proud to have worked there.

I'll bet that is why he held no hard feelings. He was one of the fortunate ones who found employment right away after the shutdown.

Craig

[mch]

thanks for the nice read, hope you get the answer as to who the passenger was
Mark

[StudeRich]

Here is that FAMOUS Photo Bob.
Definitely a '60 Lark with a Studebaker Daytime Driving Light to warn Pedestrians they are about to be run over by a Lark!

That's right, the Flag would still be Half Mast for John Kennedy's Death, probably NOT for Studebaker Indiana's.