It’s not every month that we get to celebrate someone who’s been a member of the Sports Car Club of America® for 70 years – but this month, we do! William R. Bagby Jr. from Houston Region joined the Club in July 1955 – and what a time to be a member!
The Club was formed on Feb. 26, 1944, meaning the SCCA was barely 11 when Bagby joined. That first decade saw the SCCA transition from simple car meets at someone’s house to organized vehicle competitions through rallies, hill climbs, and road races. While the 1940s built a solid foundation, it was the 1950s that saw the Club come into its own. The Sports Car Club of America’s actions ultimately brought about changes in motorsports facilities, safety, insurance, and more. This was the decade that set the stage for what we do today.
Yes, an incredible time to be a member.
That’s not to say the generations that came since have simply ridden coattails. They certainly benefited from those who laid the foundation, but accomplishment after accomplishment has built motorsports (and the SCCA) into something most only dream about being a part of – meanwhile, motorsports is your life!
Looking through the list of members celebrating milestone anniversaries this year shows the impressive crowd we walk with as members of this Club. For instance, past SCCA President and CEO Steve Johnson is celebrating 25 years as a member while SCCA Hall of Fame member Karen Babb has reached the 45-year mark. In fact, this month’s milestone anniversary listing is packed full of members who make the Club what it is, both on the local and National level.
Read through the listing below – chances are you’ll recognize a few names. Then stick around and see what the Club’s like when you hit your 70-year anniversary!
The anniversary listing below notes each member’s name, Region of record, Division, and join/rejoin date. It’s important to point out that join dates for 1980 and earlier may list the first of the month rather than the actual day of membership.
25-YEAR MEMBERS
Name, Region of Record, Division, Join/Rejoin Date
Fredrick A Bell, Des Moines Valley Region, MW, 7/26/2000
Steve Bertok, South Carolina Region, SE, 7/10/2000
Jerry C Birchmore, Washington DC Region, NE, 7/19/2000
Andrew Blyholder, San Francisco Region, NP, 7/24/2000
Robin Bonanno, Central Florida Region, SE, 7/26/2000
Gregg Borland, Milwaukee Region, CN, 7/6/2000
Cliff Castle, St Louis Region, MW, 7/7/2000
Becky Cheek, Blackhawk Valley Region, CN, 7/11/2000
Richard J Devaney, Philadelphia Region, NE, 7/25/2000
Donald J Driscoll, Northwestern Ohio Region, GL, 7/11/2000
Bonnie Dryden, Central Carolinas Region, SE, 7/10/2000
Carol Eichelberger, St Louis Region, MW, 7/17/2000
Thomas P Fullerton, Big Sky Region, NP, 7/18/2000
Jonathan Furr, Central Carolinas Region, SE, 7/24/2000
Dick Giambra, Finger Lakes Region, NE, 7/7/2000
Anders J Graff, Milwaukee Region, CN, 7/19/2000
Jeremiah Aaron Grenier, Central Florida Region, SE, 7/17/2000
Ellen Harvey, Washington DC Region, NE, 7/7/2000
Steve Johnson, Kansas City Region, MW, 7/19/2000
Mike King, San Francisco Region, NP, 7/26/2000
Randy Pearson, Steel Cities Region, NE, 7/10/2000
Debbie Schanzle, Washington DC Region, NE, 7/7/2000
Charles R Schultz, Alabama Region, SE, 7/7/2000
William C Stone, New England Region, NE, 7/17/2000
Robert S Verenna Jr., Steel Cities Region, NE, 7/19/2000
Stewart West Wright, Cincinnati Region, GL, 7/27/2000
30-YEAR MEMBERS
Name, Region of Record, Division, Join/Rejoin Date
John Becker, Nebraska Region, MW, 7/7/1995
Troy A Christensen, Florida Region, SE, 7/19/1995
Joseph Freda, Alabama Region, SE, 7/27/1995
Jim W Hepler, Northwest Region, NP, 7/27/1995
Doug Johnson, Milwaukee Region, CN, 7/7/1995
Dave Kanzler, Central Florida Region, SE, 7/11/1995
John Litzinger, Central Florida Region, SE, 7/12/1995
Dawn Luckritz, South Bend Region, GL, 7/11/1995
Robert J Luis, San Francisco Region, NP, 7/6/1995
Albert Nocerine, Northeastern Pennsylvania Region, NE, 7/25/1995
Elizabeth Offutt, Buccaneer Region, SE, 7/12/1995
Catherine Palla, Cal Club Region, SP, 7/27/1995
Don Palla, Cal Club Region, SP, 7/27/1995
Steven Rosenberg, Philadelphia Region, NE, 7/11/1995
Damon Rummel, New England Region, NE, 7/18/1995
John T Schmitt, Ohio Valley Region, GL, 7/20/1995
John Sebastian, New England Region, NE, 7/11/1995
Ellen Silverberg, St Louis Region, MW, 7/10/1995
Alek Tziortzis, Chicago Region, CN, 7/19/1995
Elizabeth Vallone, Milwaukee Region, CN, 7/25/1995
Robert C Vallone, Milwaukee Region, CN, 7/25/1995
Aaron Yeager, Blue Mountain Region, NE, 7/12/1995
35-YEAR MEMBERS
Name, Region of Record, Division, Join/Rejoin Date
Katrina Carmody, Glen Region, NE, 7/26/1990
Carl Couric, Red Hills Region, SE, 7/31/1990
J Phillip Cull, Western Michigan Region, GL, 7/26/1990
Joseph D Gersch, Houston Region, SW, 7/18/1990
Sherry Grantz, San Francisco Region, NP, 7/6/1990
Edward J Huth, Blue Ridge Region, SE, 7/10/1990
Edward M Kruszczynski, Western New York Region, NE, 7/18/1990
Gary W Middlebrook, San Diego Region, SP, 7/6/1990
Geneva Middlebrook, San Diego Region, SP, 7/6/1990
Russell Myers, Central Carolinas Region, SE, 7/18/1990
Michael P Peery, Ohio Valley Region, GL, 7/18/1990
Michael Piotrowski, Milwaukee Region, CN, 7/23/1990
Tim Reinhardt, Des Moines Valley Region, MW, 7/24/1990
Brian P Sumeracki, Detroit Region, GL, 7/31/1990
Mark S Walthew, Old Dominion Region, SE, 7/17/1990
Gretchen Weidemann, Northwest Region, NP, 7/9/1990
Todd Woodward, Red Hills Region, SE, 7/24/1990
40-YEAR MEMBERS
Name, Region of Record, Division, Join/Rejoin Date
David William Brand, New York Region, NE, 7/17/1985
Frank W Chambers, Rio Grande Region, RM, 7/24/1985
J Gregory Crandall, Blue Ridge Region, SE, 7/30/1985
Charles Damanski, Northern New Jersey Region, NE, 7/5/1985
Michael David Evans, Northwest Region, NP, 7/26/1985
Kipp Gaynor, Washington DC Region, NE, 7/5/1985
Bill Gendron, New England Region, NE, 7/31/1985
George D Harrelson Jr., North Carolina Region, SE, 7/9/1985
Clifford A Johnson, Kansas City Region, MW, 7/8/1985
Linda McHugh, Cal Club Region, SP, 7/5/1985
Scott S McHugh, Cal Club Region, SP, 7/5/1985
David B Paul II, Chicago Region, CN, 7/11/1985
Jay Pfuehler, Chicago Region, CN, 7/16/1985
Michael R Reece, New York Region, NE, 7/5/1985
James A Rose, Washington DC Region, NE, 7/5/1985
Russell J Ruedisueli, Detroit Region, GL, 7/10/1985
Jack Walbran, Texas Region, SW, 7/30/1985
45-YEAR MEMBERS
Name, Region of Record, Division, Join/Rejoin Date
Karen Babb, Northwest Region, NP, 7/1/1980
Ron Babb, Northwest Region, NP, 7/1/1980
Michael Bennett, Neohio Region, GL, 7/1/1980
Jack Burrows, Washington DC Region, NE, 7/1/1980
Terry Lee Johnson, West Texas Region, SW, 7/1/1980
Jean M Petryshyn, New England Region, NE, 7/1/1980
Patrick Shelby, Cal Club Region, SP, 7/1/1980
Brian E Sill, Central Florida Region, SE, 7/1/1980
William Scott Stewart, Misery Bay Region, NE, 7/1/1980
50-YEAR MEMBERS
Name, Region of Record, Division, Join/Rejoin Date
Ned A Beman, Finger Lakes Region, NE, 7/1/1975
Robert A Cone, Arizona Region, SP, 7/1/1975
Robert K Iriye, New England Region, NE, 7/1/1975
Michael H Miller, Central Carolinas Region, SE, 7/1/1975
Clark Winthrop Nicholls, Mohawk Hudson Region, NE, 7/1/1975
Larry O'Brien, Central Florida Region, SE, 7/1/1975
Eddie Pendry, Central Carolinas Region, SE, 7/1/1975
Mark Scarborough, Glen Region, NE, 7/1/1975
55-YEAR MEMBERS
Name, Region of Record, Division, Join/Rejoin Date
George F Anderson, Oregon Region, NP, 7/1/1970
Charles A Billington Jr., Houston Region, SW, 7/1/1970
Delmar Lee Johnson, Colorado Region, RM, 7/1/1970
60-YEAR MEMBERS
Name, Region of Record, Division, Join/Rejoin Date
James P Briody, South Jersey Region, NE, 7/1/1965
Ronald R Renoe, Kansas City Region, MW, 7/1/1965
70-YEAR MEMBERS
Name, Region of Record, Division, Join/Rejoin Date
William R Bagby Jr., Houston Region, SW, 7/1/1955
