<VV> Clay Wispell Memories

[Jay Pitchford]

Mr. Rice,

That was a beautiful tribute. I was only 10 years old when CORSA was
founded in 1969, and didn't own my first Corvair until 1975. Thank you for
sharing this bit of our shared history, and helping those of us too young
to have been part of the early days of CORSA to appreciate Clay's
dedication and contributions.

Jay Pitchford
'65 Corsa 'vert
Columbus OH




On Tue, Jul 8, 2014 at 12:31 PM, James P. Rice via VirtualVairs <
virtualvairs at corvair.org> wrote:

> CORSA has lost one of the people whose contributions made it what it is
> today.  Clay Wispell has departed this life as we know it.
>
> When CORSA was founded in 1969, it was a very loose organization run by a
> group of dedicated volunteers.  But the late 70's, less than 10 years
> later,
> it had grown to such a size it was unmanageable by volunteers.  People were
> coming and going, dropping like very overworked flies.  Because they were.
> With some controversy, CORSA hired our first management firm and
> publication
> editor.  It was also at about this time that the CORSA Board of Directors
> realized collectively CORSA needed a lot more "how to documentation and
> information" if it was to be truly organized and function well.
>
> Fortunately the CORSA BoD had on it at this time of great need, a great
> group of people who I call "engineering types."   They were both
> experienced
> and comfortable with process and procedures in their professions.  They
> also
> had vast experience with the needs and workings of large chapters.
>
> It was a Herculean task.  They had to collect all the information and
> wisdom
> from those who came before, think thru what needed to be created and
> implemented, and then commit all this information to paper.  Last time I
> saw
> the Process and Procedure manual, it was thicker than a ream of paper. It
> is
> a monument to their work and dedication.
>
> Clay Wispell was vital as one of those many who contributed beyond the call
> of duty to hard work of creating the CORSA Process and Procedure manual.
>  He
> also left his fingerprints all over many other CORSA documents plus the
> Tech
> Manual.  He and others did what needed to be done, and we as CORSA members,
> are the better for it.  As a group, they were indispensable.  We own them.
>
> I do not remember if I ever know what Clay actually did professionally.
> I've always had the impression he could tell me in great detail, but he
> would then have to shoot me.  He had a great sense of humor and did not
> take
> himself terribly seriously.  He was a person you knew you could trust upon
> first meeting him.  Insightful and analytical, he could analysis someone's
> controversial opinion to their face without hurting their self image.
>  Don't
> ask me how I know this.  This ability to separate the message from the
> messenger is unique in most circles.  And he was kind, gracious and
> merciful
> to those who did not have this ability.  It was then and is now a vital
> characteristic needed on CORSA's BoD.
>
> I don't remember anyone not liking Clay.  I always had a delightful
> conversation or two with him when we were at the same place at the same
> time.  The world is a worse place with the loss of Clay Wispell.  My
> condolences to his wife Carolyn and their family.  Our loss is nothing
> compared to yours.
>
>
>
>
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