Tom Brownell, an accomplished automotive historian, author, editor and longtime columnist for Old Cars Weekly, died on May 2 at the age of 67 from complications arising from Multiple Systems Atrophy, a rare neurological disease that blends the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). A memorial “graduation” service will be held at Windy Cove condominiums in Whitehall, Mich., on a date to be announced.
For more than 25 years, Brownell wrote the “Questions & Answers” column for Old Cars Weekly. He was founding editor of Vintage Truck magazine, and had been a syndicated columnist for Motor News Media syndicate. His writing received awards from the International Automotive Media Association. He was a member of the Society of Automotive Historians for 30 years, and until onset of his illness, was a presenter at every one of SAH’s biennial automotive history conferences. He was named a Friend of Automotive History, the Society’s highest award, in October 2008.
Subject ID: 143158
MoreTom Brownell, an accomplished automotive historian, author, editor and longtime columnist for Old Cars Weekly, died on May 2 at the age of 67 from complications arising from Multiple Systems Atrophy, a rare neurological disease that blends the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). A memorial “graduation” service will be held at Windy Cove condominiums in Whitehall, Mich., on a date to be announced.
For more than 25 years, Brownell wrote the “Questions & Answers” column for Old Cars Weekly. He was founding editor of Vintage Truck magazine, and had been a syndicated columnist for Motor News Media syndicate. His writing received awards from the International Automotive Media Association. He was a member of the Society of Automotive Historians for 30 years, and until onset of his illness, was a presenter at every one of SAH’s biennial automotive history conferences. He was named a Friend of Automotive History, the Society’s highest award, in October 2008.
“I worked with Tom probably for about 10 years on ‘Q&A,’ and for me, Tom was kind of a role model because of his professionalism, his attention to detail, and his enthusiasm and curiosity over all things related to the old car hobby,” said Ron Kowalke, OCW’s technical editor.
“He always had interesting little tidbits, little things going on, that he would share. He was very much a world traveler. He and his wife, Joyce, travelled around a lot. And he’d bring me up to speed on his personal restoration projects — he had a Jeepster he was always working on. And he always had interesting insights into the world and the car hobby.”
Subject ID: 143158
Subject ID: 143158