Fondly known to NTCA members as either "Super Fred" or Fred "First class all the way" Johnson because of his unflagging dedication to quality and perfection, he will always be remembered by us as a friend, leader, mentor, helper, doer, and groundbreaker. In fact, one of Fred's favorite sayings was that "you could always tell the pioneers by the arrows in their backs."

Fred‘s enthusiasm for Corvairs started in the early  '60s when he had occasion to rent one on a business trip. Fred always claimed to be partial to early models, as he owned a number over the years along with a Rampside, even though his best-known Corvair resto-ration was a '66 CORSA convertible called "Red Rod." Several years ago Fred restored an early model for his grandson‘s first car and broke it in on the drive out to Washington State to give it to him. His last Corvair project was a Rampside, which remains unfinished.

Fred was instrumental in setting many of the policies and procedures and, at the time, many innovations that are today part of NTCA and CORSA tradition. His legacy to both organizations include the definition of a successful club, its organization, its goals, and how to run it, Chapter Guidelines, By-Laws, Policies, Procedures, Job Descriptions, the CORSA Roster, coordinated slides of Concours winner‘s cars at the awards banquet, and the Edward N. Cole Memorial Award. He was also the driving force behind the Corvair Roundup in North Texas, the Corvair calendar project, and our Parts Service. Fred‘s adherence to and pride in his work ethic is exemplified by the tradition he set while serving as CORSA‘s secretary – all board members had the typed meeting minutes waiting for them when they returned home from each convention.

A master machinist, outstanding paint and body guy, and the only person I know who worked on his Corvairs in white coveralls, on a white garage floor, Fred lent his talent to the cars as well as making many of the tools necessary to rebuilding them. He was a Hi-Fi buff and fireworks aficionado who wrote the specifications for special firecrackers that would be strung in a mega array 350 feet long and 20 feet high and set off sequentially. He was involved in many innovative, clever mechanical, electrical, avionics, and computer related design projects over his professional career.

For all of Fred‘s serious endeavors and accomplishments, there was a humor with wit and wisdom that often surfaced at unexpected moments. His quip about "if you want to get a job done, give it to a busy person" is just one example. After his "the grass is greener …" cartoon surfaced with his spelling of frivolity, he was ever after "Phred" to me.

It is a point of personal privilege that I call Fred a friend, and am thankful for all the lessons and memories.

Clay Wispell