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LATEST TPC MAGAZINE...
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2021 PCS International Meet
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THOMAS A. McPHERSONProfessional car expert, author and our friend...
The following is an example of the reaction of those who knew and loved Tom soon after his death was announced: Clifton K. This is very sad news. May he rest in peace. Brendan M. Horrible news! Jon V D. So sorry to hear. Collin J. Rest in peace, what an Icon! Steven S. Very sorry to hear this news. Darren B. This is a major loss of a dear friend, a huge loss to the professional car hobby and a wealth of knowledge taken from us. Devastated is the least I can say. A very dark day in the professional car world. Dave L. Oh, please no - I respected his work even before my interested in professional cars. Erin P. OMG ! He was a wealth of knowledge to this group. Justin R. Man, Tom and Tony in the same year Dr Mo M. Very sorry to read this. A great loss. He has been so active in this group. A walking encyclopedia on professional vehicles. Peace to his family and Walter McCall. Butch H. Very sad news. Paul S. Rest in peace !!! Bob B. Oh no. : ( Rick S. Was literally just sitting here looking at his book “American funeral cars and ambulances since 1900” when I saw the notification pop-up on my phone. He made the hobby more enjoyable and his legacy will be enduring! Rick S. That book is the bible. I finally got a copy 3 years ago, after wanting one for over 25 years. I originally checked it out at my county library but then someone else checked it out and never returned it. I finally found it on eBay for $85, most sell for $125 and up. Robert A. Prayers and Respect Michael B. I’m lost for words. I was proud to call him my friend. He helped me so much with my book. I’m Devastated. Rick D. Very sorry to hear this. Eternal rest and Perpetual light Tom! Mark K. Wow. Sorry to hear this. What a loss. Mark B. Sending deepest condolences and prayers. God Bless. Stephen D. He will be missed. Rest in peace Tom Steve S. Speechless! Rest in peace mate. Dawn C. M. He will be missed. Rest in peace Tom Bruce B. I’m sending prayers and my condolences. Glad to have had the privilege to know him. God speed. Larry S. So sad. Chris H. I fondly remember back in the 80’s before the internet when the McPherson "Bible" was kind of an obscure book to come by. It was such a "wow" moment when that book arrived in the mail. It remains one of the greatest acquisitions of my pro car collectibles and library. Still love paging through it as most of us do, I'm sure. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with such passion. Rest in peace Mr. McPherson. George K. Prayers. Gorgon Z. Prayers. Kent M. We have lost a huge font of knowledge. Rest well, Tom! Kim K. My heartfelt condolences to his family. Prayers. Grant R. So saddened by this news. I enjoyed reading American Funeral Cars and Ambulances as a kid. I’d take it out of the central branch of the Mississauga Library as often as I could. I eventually got my own copy as an adult along with his Superior masterpiece. Tom was kind enough to answer my messages and questions regarding pro cars in more recent years. I never had the privilege of meeting him in person. An immeasurable loss to the Pro Car hobby and history. Rest in peace Tom. Richard T. Oh no.... Walter M. Thanks for all the kind thoughts. Tom and I were joined at the hip when it came to hearses. We’ve been close friends for over 50 years. I don’t know what to do now. Struggling. Thanks to all. Carl W. Bernie's long wait is over. Rest in peace Tom McPherson Jim H. Prayers Miguel G. We’ve lost a scholar, archivist, mentor and friend. Deepest condolences to Tom’s family and loved ones. Dave L. I am still shocked by this news. Long before I knew about professional cars, before I owned a copy of the "Black Book," before a friend first showed me a copy of "The Professional Car," I knew Mr. McPherson as the author of "The Dodge Story." In the "about the author" section, it explains how he test drove a '71 R/T, a model of car that would be my first car and daily driver, what I eventually sold, which helped me purchase my professional car project. I wish I could have shared with him some photos I had acquired. And it is selfish for me to say I wish I could have met him, but I do. Rest in peace, Mr. McPherson. Condolences to those who knew and loved him. Gary J. Sorry to hear this. Sending prayers to his family. Rest in peace Tom Laurent C. Rest in Peace Tom. Thank you for your knowledge in the pro car world. Prayers to family and friends Sjouke T. Prayers Reuben G. I did not know him, but the mark he left on the Professional Car Community will be unsurpassed... Praying for his family and friends... Ken R. Rest in peace... loved his books... Tom C. Praying for comfort for Tom's Family and Friends Brady S. Not only heartbroken at the loss of Tom, but heartbroken that those of us who cherished him can't gather to share our grief because of this damned virus. Bill M. I bought the “Black Book” in 1973. I was still in high school and I kept it all these years. Then in 1995, I met Tom in person and bought the “Superior” book, right at Superior Coaches. We saw Tom and his family quite a bit that Int'l Meet week in Ft Wayne: nice people. Tom will be sorely missed by those of us who knew him, but his books will live on for our enjoyment and enrichment. Thank you, Tom, for helping professional cars to gain respect by many people, in a way, you definitely brought my interest level up and my participation with professional cars was inspired by you. My condolences to your family and friends, you will forever live in our personal libraries. Rest in peace Tom! Ron D. I remember the very first time I met Tom. I felt like I was in the midst of a celebrity. I felt the same way when I first met Walt McCall. I had read all of both their books and many of their articles. The PCS family and the whole pro car collector genre has suffered a great loss. He will be dearly missed. Abe B. I am absolutely devastated by this news. Tom was such a true gem. I was so hoping to finally meet him in June. May he rest in everlasting peace and may his friends, family and loved ones, including all of us, be comforted by our memories of Tom, and empathy. Tom’s body of work will live on forever and his legacy will endure. MEMBER PROFILE. . .Jim Staruk is a PCS member and has restored several ambulances over the past 10 years. Featured here is a recent rehabilitation of a 1975 Superior model 54XL ambulance on a Cadillac chassis. The 54XL model ambulance was manufactured for only 2 years. It featured the rear driver's side windows covered with sheet metal and a floor-to-ceiling medical cabinet along the interior wall. The ambulance also featured a walk-through partition. 30 of this model ambulance was made by Superior and only 4 are known to still survive.
This ambulance was purchased from a gentleman from Apple Valley, CA. The body and mechanics were in great condition. The engine and transmission were rebuild "200 miles ago" and the body was pained "a few years back". The interior, however, needed a little work. The headliner needed to be replaced, it needed front seats (replaced with a pair of swivel seats from a '74 GM car), door panels, carpeting and the patient area needed to be completely rebuilt, mostly from scratch. All original interior wiring was replaced and new cabinets, bench seat, rear door medicine chest and attendant's seats were all custom made. The rear floor was covered with Armstrong colonial brick pattern found in the cellar of a local flooring store. The roof was topped off with a B&M Super Chief siren and dual electrical sirens with a PA system.
News and Notes . . . PCS CARS FEATURED IN THE CA FIRE MUSEUM PUBLICATION
The July 26, 2020 issue of the California Fire Museum's newsletter "The Watch Desk" featured an article on The Limo Ambulance Days. How many PCS-owned cars can you find?
PCS MAGAZINE WINS NATIONAL AWARD
April, 2020: The Professional Car, Walt McCall, editor, wins the GOLDEN QUILL 2019 award under the category of "National Luxury". Congratulations to Walt and all the others whose hard work make this magazine a national award winner!
PASSING OF MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF PCS... David Anthony “Tony” Karsnia, age 49 of East Bethel, Minnesota, passed away on Monday, November 2, 2020. Tony was the past President of the PCS (2014 - 2020). You can read his obituary HERE. Click HERE to read President Steinberg's eulogy. Sandy Roegner, age 62 of Whitmore Lake, Michigan, passed away on October 27, 2020. Sandy was well known throughout the PCS community and was the Vice President of the PCS Motor City Chapter. You can read her obituary HERE. Keith G. Milligan, Sr., of Seekonk, Massachusetts passed away on October 1, 2020. You can read his obituary HERE. Doug Scott, age 73 of Glendale, CA, passed away on September 25, 2020. Doug was well known throughout the PCS as a vintage hearse and ambulance salesman. You can read his obituary HERE. Jay Carollo passed away on August 23, 2020 at the age of 68. Jay was a former Professional Car Society member and an active forum member. You can read his obituary HERE. Carlton Ham passed away on January 8, 2020 at the age of 76. Carlton dates to the early years of the PCS. You can read his obituary HERE. Dennis Shira, long-time PCS member, passed away on January 29, 2020 at the age of 68. You'll find is obituary HERE. WELCOME NEW PCS MEMBERS...February, 2021
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