Page 6 - Sample pages "Raymond Henri Dietrich" by Necah S. Furman

day, as well as on the classic cars of yesteryear. Even such a talent, however, may never have made a lasting imprint without the special persona that was Ray Dietrich.
My first meeting with Dietrich at a party in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is a case in point. The hostess came up, took me by the arm, and said, “There is someone here I want you to meet.”
I turned around to see a tall, handsome, older man with tremendous presence and charm. He was accompanied by his wife, Marion, an attractive lady with a short crop of flaming red hair.
In the conversation that ensued, it was fascinating to learn that Ray was “the famous car designer.” I also learned that Marion, a former director of the New Mexico Symphony and co-founder of the Chamber Orchestra of Albuquerque, was a bright, intelligent woman totally devoted to her husband. When they, in turn, learned that as a young professor with specialization in the history of science and technology, I had already published a well-received biography, the die was cast. The eventual outcome of this chance meeting was the Dietrich book, an American story incorporating his career and accomplishments set within the context of the times in which he lived.
Ray and Marion agreed to grant their time, personal files and photographs, access to contacts, and the resource materials necessary to accomplish the task. We agreed that the book should not be a technical manual providing specs and line drawings of the many beautiful designs Ray produced (although some are included). Nor would it be a compilation solely of studio photographs of the timeless classics he designed; rather the book would incorporate a more eclectic and personalized approach featuring photographs of Dietrich Classics carefully restored as well as archival originals. On a personal level, I hoped to find photographs that represented his extraordinary design talents, innovations, and elegant style – a quest assisted by many generous individuals.
During my personal interactions with Ray, which extended over a period of years, I found him patient and personally unassuming. It was obvious, however, that he took great pride in his work and liked to talk about it. That was an asset. The many hours of interviews and taped recordings add a personal insight and conversational flavor that hopefully will be enjoyed.
Not long before Ray’s death, he and Marion visited the author and husband John in El Paso, Texas, when this photograph of Necah and Ray was taken. “Ray and I completed a few more interviews for his biography,” Necah said, “but it was not all business as Ray and John, a former NFL football player, shared a love of sports. It was an enjoyable visit as both Ray and Marion remained eternally young-at-heart. (DPF, courtesy Marion Dietrich)
15 RETROSPECTIVE
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