(William Edwin Reddig, born 08 August 1923. Died 02 January 2014).

OK- I know I have been a little spotty on The Daily of late, but I have my reasons. This would not be nearly as late as it is, if I did not have an electrifying encounter with Edgar the Turkey Buzzard. He is a (so far) flightless vulture who took up residence in one of the stalls in my barn sometime over the summer.

For the past decade I have left the doors open so that tunneling varmints would not have protection from the local fox and other predators- and it worked, right up to the point that the practice got me the buzzard as a squatter.

My neighbors chased him out, and I was concerned that he would move back in. I drove down at mid-day, and was surveying the back pastures after I got in here this afternoon and saw Edgar strutting big as life at the bottom on the field. Sensing opportunity, I raced down and managed to horse the four sliding doors back into the closed position.

I think the problem is solved, but you never know. Edgar disappeared into the woods, where I hope he will stay until he takes flight. At that point he will have a height advantage on me and I will be watching the skies.

But all that got me thinking about when I purchased the farm, and why, and what has happened in the decade since. And then I realized that it is August 8th, my father’s birthday. It would have been his 93rd. The Hoosier AMC Club holds it annual car show on the weekend after his birthday, and I was scrambling to see if there was a way to get Rosie the 1959 Rambler Cross-Country Station Wagon to the show, even if I can’t be there.

I started looking around for some pictures and ran across an obituary that I had not been aware of when everything was swirling around in the wake of the passing of both our parents. I was surprised to see it, but I shouldn’t be.

Patrick Foster is a car writer, and a particular specialist in the history of the American Motors Company. In the course of his research, he discovered that Dad was still active and one of the last members of the post-war team that designed the “Sensible Spectaculars.” He was a regular fixture at their house in Petoskey, and penned several volumes on the rise and fall of the Rambler marque. You might want to look them up:

He said it this way: “It is once again my sad duty to report to my fellow Nash enthusiasts the passing of another great Nash-Kelvinator and Nash Motors executive. William E. Reddig, former assistant director of styling for Nash, passed away on Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 12:35 pm. Thankfully his passing was a peaceful one. His wife, Betty, passed away the same day, within two hours of Bill’s death.

Bill was born August 8, 1923, to James Burr (“J.B.”) and Rhoda Reddig of New Jersey. Bill was the youngest of four children. As a youngster he showed great talent in drawing. Upon graduating high school Bill decided on a course of study in industrial design and management. He graduated from Pratt Institute determined to become a car designer. Bill first worked for Ford but within a short time was asked to come to Nash-Kelvinator, where he was interviewed and hired by Nash Styling Director Ed Anderson.

At Nash, Bill worked on what became the 1952 Ambassador and Statesman, and then on the restyling of the Rambler for 1953. He continued designing cars in the Nash Styling Department, eventually becoming Assistant Director of Styling under the legendary Ed Anderson. Bill is credited with coming up with the Rambler station wagon’s trademark roof dip, as just one aspect of his overall work on the landmark 1956 Rambler series. The last car he worked on was the 1961 Rambler. In 1959 Bill moved over to the Kelvinator Division to become Director of Styling.

Bill wanted to serve his country in World War Two, so he volunteered for flight training. He was commissioned as a Naval Aviator through the V5 Program shortly after the conclusion of the war. Bill flew AD-4J Skyraider attack aircraft (The famed Spad) for the Navy Reserve at NAS Grosse Isle, resigning his commission in 1956 after the birth of his third child, his daughter Ann. He continued his service to his country as an active member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary at the helm of his yacht The Annie C, based in Petoskey Michigan, where he also served as a City Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem.

Bill and Betty were married in 1947 at the Little Church around the Corner in Manhattan. They renewed their vows at the same church in 2007 on the occasion of their 60th anniversary, a gala occasion that will be remembered by the numerous extended family and friends who attended.

On a more personal level, Bill was simply the nicest person I’ve ever met. He became like a big brother to me as we became close friends. The times we spent together at car shows are some of the best days of my life. I’ll miss him, as we all will. Men like Bill Reddig come along perhaps once in a lifetime.”

I vividly remember some of the moments recounted in Patrick’s obituary, including the dinner hour in which Betty fixed Bill with a steely gaze as she pointed out that he now had three children and it was about time to quit playing Attack Pilot. He meekly agreed.

It has been four years. I do not know where the time has gone. But I miss him.

(That is Bill in the middle with Ed Anderson to the right).

Copyright 2016 Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com