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Our longtime friend, automotive historian and PAS member Sinclair Powell passed away about 2 AM this morning following a stroke on August 23. Sinclair has been a PAS member since 1966. I will pass along the obituary details when received. Memorials to the Pierce-Arrow Museum and Franklin Museum will be mentioned in the obituary.
Dave Stevens
I am very sorry to hear of his passing.
My prayers go out to his family.
I will let one of my uncles know of his passing since he is a very active member in the Franklin Club.
SINCLAIR POWELL 11/9/22 – 9/13/17
Sinclair passed away on September 13 following a stroke 3 weeks earlier. This loss will be shared by many within the Pierce-Arrow, Franklin, SAH and general old car community. Though physically small of stature, he was a giant to many who will remember his booming voice, sage advice and many accomplishments over his almost 95 years.
Sinclair was an old car enthusiast and a lawyer for many years. He graduated from Michigan State University and Cornell Law. He served in the US Army during WWII. He was a long-time member of state and Federal bars. His office was in Ann Arbor, Michigan. During his career, he taught urban planning, public administration and public law at several Midwest universities. He was a legal and management advisor to state and local governments and to private non-profit agencies including major studies in the area of transportation.
After retirement he began to research the development of the American auto industry. He owned a 1928 Pierce-Arrow and a 1929 Franklin. He ultimately concentrated on studying the history of the Franklin Automobile Company, a firm located in Syracuse, New York. This research culminated in a book entitled “The Franklin Automobile Company”, published in 1999 by the Society of Automotive Engineers Press. The book received the McKean Memorial Award from the Antique Automobile Club of America, the Nicholas-Joseph Cugnot Award from the Society of Automotive Historians, and the Franklin Medallion from Syracuse University.
Sinclair joined the Pierce-Arrow Society in 1967 and was a Life Member of the Pierce-Arrow Foundation. He was also a longtime active member of the Franklin Club. Interested in the field of transportation history, from 1997-1999, he was president of the Society of Automotive Historians, an international organization of persons interested in the history of the motor car.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Suzanne. He is also survived by a son, Robert, of Manhattan Beach, CA, a sister, Betty White, a nephew, James Lynn and a niece, Peggy Lynn.
Services will be held on Friday – October 20, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor, 1432 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor 48104.
In lieu of flowers, Suzanne suggests donations in his memory to the Pierce-Arrow Foundation, PO Box 309, Whitehall, MI 49461-0309 or to the Franklin Museum also located near the Pierce-Arrow Museum on the grounds of the Gilmore Car Museum.
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I’m deeply saddened to hear of Sinclair’s passing.
I was able to visit Sinclair and to assist him with getting his car ready to drive to the Gathering. But he had his stroke before the meet in Western Michigan.
Sinclair was frail at that time, but was full of excitement to be going to the Gathering this year..
My heart goes out to Suzanne and his family.
Greg Long
********REMINDER************
SINCLAIR POWELL 11/9/22 – 9/13/17
Services will be held on Friday – October 20, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at:
First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor
1432 Washtenaw Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
In lieu of flowers, Suzanne suggests donations in his memory to the:
Pierce-Arrow Foundation
PO Box 309
Whitehall, MI 49461-0309
or to the Franklin Museum also located near the Pierce-Arrow Museum on the grounds of the Gilmore Car Museum.