Joe Fox – Holland, Ohio

Greetings to my Model A ‘family’. That’s how I see it… we’re a family! In the nearly 50 years that I’ve been a MARC member, I’ve met a myriad of folks and become quite close friends with many. And with a total of 8 years on the Board of Directors, most recently as President from 2020 to 2022, I was able to help shape the growth of our fine organization, even through some very difficult times.

As a bit of personal history. . . I met Sandy in 1975, and also found and purchased my first Model A, a true basket case ’30 Tudor. I began its restoration, but you might say that life got in the way . . . in a very good way of course! We got married, I got my Master’s Degree, we started a family and built a house.  And somehow, by 1983 that Tudor was on the road! We became deeply involved with the local MARC Region (Western Lake Erie), and as time moved on, I led the group to hosting MARC Meets in ’86 and ’89, and was a major part of the 2016, 2019, & 2023 Meets. I’ve held every officer position and currently write the club newsletter. As a retired engineer, I now enjoy gardening, vintage auto restoration, and driving my 400A.

My time on the MARC Board of Directors included 4 years from 1996 – 2000, during which time I revived the MARC Youth Program, appointing a Youth Coordinator to oversee activities and articles targeted for the young folks, who are the future of our hobby.  It is still going strong today!

I also completed the MARC History Book, and later made major improvements to the National Meet guidelines. In 2018 I returned to the Board as VP, then President. These were troubled times, as COVID raised its ugly head and forced us to make the very difficult decision to cancel two Membership Meets and a National Meet. We got through that ordeal, but not without losing a portion of our membership.

I am especially proud that Sandy and I were chosen as the 2023 recipients of the Kenneth G. Brady MARC lifetime achievement award.  What an honor! I’m currently: finishing my term as Trustee of the Model A Ford Foundation, Inc. (MAFFI), operator of the Model A Ford Museum, with a portion of my term spent as President. I feel that a strong bond between our organizations is critical to the long-term success of both groups.  MARC is comprised of folks with many different ways of preserving the interest in the Model A Ford and its place in history. We have many who enjoy touring and driving their A’s, while some get a thrill from building a car to the highest degree of authentic perfection.  (Yes, I’m also a ‘fine point’ judge/Team Captain!) Some enjoy fashion, literature and other aspects of the era.

I strongly believe that all these aspects of our hobby and more must be supported to ensure our continued existence. I look forward to working with a strong and dedicated Board to ensure that the best interests of all MARC Members are supported, with the goal of making MARC the best Model A Club that it can be.

Thank you, and Happy Model A’ing!