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Submitted by Martin T. Evans

My Dad and my Mom laid it all on the line as my Dad worked for GM in the Parts Division. My Dad began as a union worker in Des Moines, Iowa. My Dad worked hard and moved up the ranks on the basis of his work and results, not much by politics. So next stop was Minneapolis, then Detroit, then Louisville, Kentucky -- next was Baltimore -- moving the warehouse and starting new -- I think in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Then, our family moved to St. Louis, next Drayton Plains for my Dad, then Broadview, Illinois. Next stop was in New Jersey for a couple of years and then the last transfer was back to GMPD Flint. My Dad retired from GM and I hope that GM can regain its excellence as a company to honor my Dad and the whole group of workers, including my brother and several friends from high school who worked hard for GM.

The 14th floor at GM made some great decisions and then missed some opportunities. Like many companies that grew fast, worked with multi-faceted processes of design, engineering, manufacturing, and world wide distribution- the economics are now quite challenging.

Growing up in a GM family, my brother and two sisters were treated to the thrill of driving and riding in a whole complement of the best GM vehicles. We have home movies circa 1958 or 1959 with my Dad, Martin T. Evans, driving a new Corvette and giving the kids for a ride. The Corvette was a GM and Chevrolet success, and we were there riding, driving and saving it all in a home movie taken with the good old 8 mm Kodak camera, film only - no sound at that point. In the early 60s, we rocked to the band, The Cyrkle, singing about the "newest thing for men and their machines...it’s the Camaro...racing to the sun." Wow, I wished I would have saved that 45 record.

But speaking of records, we also had the old 78 version, a red glossy, vinyl with the famous Dinah Shore singing “See the USA in your Chevrolet.” Bring that one back and I'll get my kids' band to issue a cover version of that song that can help introduce the Chevy Volt. My Dad won contests for GM Part Division Managers. My Dad managed the GMPD warehouse in Louisville, Kentucky. Not sure of all the details, but my Mom and Dad went to Miami around 1960 and stayed at the Fontainebleau, an elegant hotel then and now revitalized. And yes, we have 8 mm film of that trip and someone on the deep sea fishing trip landed a shark, and this was all recorded by my Dad, GMPD manager, and winner of that rewards trip then. From Louisville, we got the call and the transfer to Baltimore, Maryland. I still remember my Dad's descriptions of how that warehouse was in shambles, rat infested and of course, not getting parts out to the dealers on time. I think it took him six years to clean up that mess and then there was some sort of consolidation to a new modern warehouse.

In Baltimore, my Dad would go in to work early as usual, drive my sister and her friend to their high school, and usually work late. He would arrive back to our home in Bel Air, have dinner late with my Mom and start it all over again early the next day. I recall one Saturday, my brother and I went in to the warehouse with my Dad and Mom. My brother and I hit the vending machines for snacks, my Dad inspected what box cars were unloaded, what parts orders were picked and packed, and the general state of the building. That day our ‘64 or ‘65 Chevy was broadsided by another car. The ignition key cut my Dad's leg badly. The ignition key was in the dashboard at that time and so I noticed in the next few model years, the key was moved to the steering column. Good engineering improvement and we experienced the reason why first hand.

Next transfer was to St. Louis. We were able to see the Corvette Club races at the Warehouse grounds, feast on sheet cakes that had the logos of each of the GM Divisions, and meet my one of my Dad's favorite General Managers of his career, Walt McShane. I remember Mr. McShane taking us from the airport in St. Louis to the then new Noah's Ark Restaurant in St. Charles. Mr. McShane was a big St. Louis Cardinals fan. He introduced my Dad to Stan Musial. While working in St. Louis, my Dad let me drive a new sleek yellow Corvette in and out of our private driveway, listening to KXOK, and feeling great --- I was in 7th or 8th grade.

While in St. Louis, my brother and Dad were taking one of the usual trips in to the warehouse on a Saturday. My Dad routinely went in to the warehouses on Saturdays just to see what progress had been made. That day, a large spring broke off a truck's suspension and it crashed through the window of my Dad's company car. I think it cut through the steering wheel, and landed at my brother's feet. That steering wheel saved my Dad. So, just recently, I asked my daughter if she thought new cars should continue to have steering wheels or perhaps should be equipped with toggling video game like controllers for steering. She thought that steering wheels were still a good idea. Next move for my Dad was back near Detroit, in Drayton Plains, Michigan.

There is much more to the story -- but my Dad passed away on March 22, 2009. So hey GM and GMPD, please send us what you have about his work and career, too.

Funeral is at Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Sun City, Arizona. My Mom's home is at 6740 W Topeak Glendale, Arizona 85308.

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