Smith:He just loved the stuff. Mark Smith(owner, Smith Automotive Investments):He was a true gentleman, just the nicest man, and a true car guy. During the promotional marathon, demonstrators assembled outside the Asylum St. facility, picketing the management of WCCC to hire Stephens. Your account is fully activated, you now have access to all content. William James Allen (April 6, 1937 - June 29, 2022) was an American businessman who was the CEO of the Alaska oilfield services company VECO Corporation. The Jerrari was very special to Harrah. At the Harbert get together I made arrangements with Bill to sit down with me for an interview sometime in 2019. Now in its 10th year, thousands of attendees make their way to this show. For those not in the know, this is the pony car that has 707 horses under the hood. Stephens' father was a long-distance truck driver and his mother worked in the restaurant business in the Boston area. [12], Allen died on June 29, 2022 at the age of 85; at the time of his death he lived in Grand Junction, Colorado.[13][14]. After the scheme was exposed, Mark declined to enter his second horse. Of course, this would have all kinds of ramifications for Clyde [Wade, her husband and manager of the collection] and me. Bill Stephens William Weyman Stephens Jr., known professionally as Bill Stephens (born October 16, 1949) is an American network television host and commentator specializing in automotive and motorsports presentations. At Sheep Dip, in the mid 80s, Tad Dunbar sang (to the tune of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen): Allen operated the newspaper until shutting it down and selling many of its assets to its rival, the Anchorage Daily News, in 1992. Every week hed give me one.. Sales: sale. However, very few collections can brag about their quantity as much as this glorious location can with over 1000 vehicles from virtually every year in American automotive history. William Weyman Stephens Jr., known professionally as Bill Stephens (born October 16, 1949) is an American network television host and commentator specializing in automotive and motorsports presentations. David Gooding(CEO of Gooding & Company Auctions): He was a gambler. In 2003, he co-wrote a similar book with 3-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Shirley Muldowney titled "Shirley Muldowney's Tales from the Track". Stephens has been married twice. Stephens' father was a long-distance truck driver and his mother worked in the restaurant business in the Boston area. It was a year and a half then, when Holiday Inns finally took over. Bill Stevens Auto, Inc. | Better Business Bureau Profile Its rare because most folks gave them to their kids or threw them away.. In 1986, Stephens created a unique speaking skills program, Vocal Point, and has conducted comprehensive training seminars for such companies as General Motors, Sears, Citibank, ADP Payroll Systems, Unifirst Corporation, Cablevision of Boston, Cablevision of New York, Prime Computer, Bull Information Systems, Yankee Software Systems, Cognos Direct, American Frozen Foods, Bell South, AT&T (formerly Cellular One and Cingular), Newpro Replacement Windows, and Epsilon. It was one of the first muscle cars with a top speed of 125 mph. Mr. Harrah came with his wife, Verna, and Bill Cosby, and we all spent time with him. My uncle, Lenard Davis had restored these 2 cars. The other guys thought it was a waste of the companys assets. Just because you can go fast doesnt mean you should. Through an agreement described as "unique," Allen paid for space in the editorial section of the ADN for many years afterward to provide a half-page feature known as The Voice of the Times. 26 March 2021. Allen was succeeded as chairman of the board by his daughter, Tammy Kerrigan. On May 7, 2007, Allen, along with VECO's Vice President for Community & Government Affairs Rick Smith, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Anchorage in the Alaska political corruption probe to charges of extortion, bribery, and conspiracy to impede the Internal Revenue Service. When he reached the driving age of 16 in 1967, it was the apex of the American muscle car era. The interesting thing is that Gold Star restorations were not just done on valuable cars, but on anything that they deemed important. How much? Helck said, Which one? and Harrah replied, How much? He boughteverything. In 2003, he co-wrote a similar book with 3-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Shirley Muldowney titled "Shirley Muldowney's Tales from the Track". Public Home > 1/1 Car photo's > CUSTOM CAR BUILDERS > CUSTOM CAR PHOTO COLLECTIONS > The Chip Chipman Photo Collection > Chip's Bill Reasoner photos Public Home 1/1 Car photo's Ill tell you a funny story. Stephens is a six-time winner of the national Telly Award for Television Production and has won the Imperial Palace Moto Award for Excellence in Historical Automotive Television. $6.00. How many car buffs do you know that have owned more than 200 cars, most of them to-die-for performance cars, and presently his two daily drivers are a 2019 Corvette Z06 coupe and a 2018 Dodge Challenger Hellcat? In 2010, he was the MC of the "Tribute to Snake & Mongoose" at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California, highlighting the legendary careers of former drag racing stars Don "The Snake" Prudhomme and Tom "The Mongoose" McEwen. Gifts processed in this system are not tax deductible, but are predominately used to help meet the local financial requirements needed to receive national matching-grant funds. He was also interviewed on the phone during his 35-hour broadcast by Don Imus on WNBC in New York and Larry Glick on WBZ in Boston. i was just a kid when my parents took me with them to Harrahs both in Reno and Las Vegas and the hotels always had special feel to me. Only a few hundred of these were made, Lockhart said. The company provides vehicle restoration, frame and axle servicing and vehicle painting. In 2011, he MC'ed the "Tribute to Phil Hill" at the Petersen Automotive Museum at which the great American world champion was remembered by such iconic racing personalities as Dan Gurney, Carroll Shelby, Parnelli Jones, Jim Hall, Sam Posey, Denise McCluggage, and automotive enthusiast/TV host Jay Leno. And he didnt have a (firm) handshake griphe just kind of left his hand out there I came [to Harrah Corporation] in 1975 and he died in 1978. Stephens has written three books for Sports Publishing, LLC of Champaign, IL. Another example is a 1946 Mercury Town and County. (I worked with those 4 guys in the white coveralls, Aldo, Joe, George and Al.). Open until 6:00 PM. Weve got your covered, check out our listings for Meet Bill Sefton, muscle car collector bar none by Dar Davis During a review of the case triggered by allegations of prosecutorial misconduct, investigators for the United States Department of Justice discovered a previously undocumented interview between Allen and prosecutors. It was sure an education to have worked there on the restorations, for those years. My particular passion is Studebakers, he said. Dopo l'acquisto, ottieni l'accesso della durata di 30 giorni alle informazioni disponibili online (controlla i prezzi). Success! Last Thursday night I went to the Larz Anderson Museum of Transportation in Brookline, MA to listen to a lecture by Velocity Networks Bill Stephens. In the past year Harbor Country resident and mutual car friend John Nordquist arranged for me to meet up with Bill for a breakfast get together in Harbert, and a little later I arranged for the three of us (along with mutual friend Peter Loveland) to meet up in South Haven to visit the terric Red McFadden car collection. "[11] Rachel Alexandra, with Borel riding her, won the 2009 Preakness Stakes with Mine that Bird ridden by Mike Smith, finishing second, a length behind. Stephens, the youngest of three children and the only boy, was born in Brookline, Massachusetts to William and Claire Stephens and raised in Somerville, Massachusetts, several miles west of Boston. [5], On May 11, 2007, the VECO Corporation announced that CEO Bill Allen and Vice President for Community & Government Affairs Rick Smith had resigned from the corporation. In this interview, Allen stated that the fair market value of the repairs to Stevens' house was around $80,000, far less than the $250,000 he testified to at trial. Who could afford a car like this in 1936? he asked. His pick of the 1968 Dodge Charger 4-speed Hemi R/T with bumble bee stripe (black with red interior and red stripe) was the answer for his nominee for the most successful, iconic muscle car of all time. Monterey. He was also the only music disc jockey on the airstaff to move to the new format, co-hosting WRKO's Morning Magazine program with Norm Nathan for two years. Floral w Gilding Vintage Candy. Scottsdale. In the past year Harbor Country resident and mutual car friend John Nordquist arranged for me to meet up with Bill for a breakfast get together in Harbert, and a little later I arranged for the three of us (along with mutual friend Peter Loveland) to meet up . He is a television producer and writer for various automotive television programs and a communications consultant providing media training for motorsports personalities and vocal and listening skills training for business people at all levels of the corporate world. Stephens has been the recipient of several major broadcasting awards for his radio hosting and production, including three International Radio Festival of New York Awards in 198890, an Achievement in Radio Award in 1990, and National Silver Microphone Award in 1994. If you want to learn more about this article, please contact Dar at dn143@sboglobal.net. In a sense, however, they all flow from a series of sales that took place in the mid-1980s. In 2011, he researched, wrote, produced, and narrated the National Hot Rod Association's 60 Greatest Moments video to commemorate the NHRA's 60th anniversary. The Toyota Land Cruiser is a legend in the history of the automobile, the utility vehicle serving as the gold standard of off-roaders ever since its introduction. Bill Stevens Auto Sales | Lisbon Falls ME - Facebook His most recent purchase is a classic woodie with a matching Airstream trailer. Bill Stevens Auto Sales, Inc. - 4227 4th St NW Albuquerque, NM 87107. His parents permanently separated when he was 13 years old, and following graduation from Somerville High School in 1967, Stephens held several jobs including driving a truck, driving a taxi, making pizza, and working in local auto body shops as a body repairman and painter. He remarried in 1987 to Deborah Susan Donnell in Yarmouthport, MA, resulting in two sons, Will (born April 9, 1990) and Sean (born September 21, 1995) and divorced in May 2010. Bill asked an interesting question of the audience to identify the first car that could be considered a muscle car. Cindy Wade (Bill Harrahs executive secretary):He had his routine, which he followed fairly closely every day. Ive got a Ferrrai now and the next time I take her out, Ill be dedicating the ride to Harrah, his hotels, and his car collection. Im a brand X guy and like all American muscle cars, he replied. I worked on the [contracts for] cars and I worked on his divorces [laughs], of which there were many. Thanks for all the history youve put together in this article! Stephens served as a national event PA announcer for the NHRA Championship Drag Racing Series for 4 years between 1994 and 1997 and is a frequent Master of Ceremonies for various automotive and racing tributes, banquets, and award presentations. Bill turned around and said, Youre the artist, I like your work. It should be no surprise that his rst car was a performance pony car, a 1971 Ford Mach 1 fastback. Power & Associates, Auto Trader.com, MSNBC.com, and eBay Motors. 6 Telly Awards for Television Production, Writing, and/or Narration, Imperial Palace Award for Historical Automotive Television, 1996, 3 International Radio Festival of New York Awards 1988, 1989, 1990, It may need editing to conform to Wikipedia's, Please help to demonstrate the notability of the topic by citing, Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bill_Stephens&oldid=1089575057, This page was last edited on 24 May 2022, at 15:44. (505) 344-0447. Business hours. This directly contradicted Allen's testimony at trial, where he claimed Stevens had asked him to give Persons a note Stevens had sent asking for a bill for the repair work. Gooding:Bill Harrah came to Cleveland in 1978. This has led to the discovery of some of the most incredible vintage vehicles ever to see the sales floor, and it would appear that a new automotive . Dar Davis funded the Lake Bluff Concours and chaired the event for many years. The Columbia Falls trucking company operator is in the process of building a museum to showcase his 45 . Also in 2003, he authored a biographical picture book on the life of drag racer Kenny Bernstein titled "Kenny Bernstein, The King of Speed". This car was prepared by Roush.). Hewas the one who loved it. Profit and joy Lockhart enjoys researching the history of the cars he collects and he especially likes models from less-common manufacturers like Kaiser Motors. In 1989, Stephens was named writer, producer, narrator of the award-winning automotive TV series Wild About Wheels, produced at Global Television Network in Acton, MA and aired on The Discovery Channel. He is an avid car collector and has owned numerous collector-grade vehicles including a 1965 Shelby American Continuation Series 427SC Cobra, a 1965 ERA 427 Cobra Replica, a 1993 GMC Typhoon, 1998 Jaguar XK8 convertible, 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9, 1994 Mitsubishi 3000GT and 12 Chevrolet Corvettes in model years ranging from 1960 to 1980. William Bill Sefton is an avid car collector from Chicago, Illinois. [citation needed]. Old Nuremberg Bavaria Germany Nut Dish. At trial, Allen said Persons had told him the note shouldn't be taken seriously because "Ted's just covering his ass". Everybody knew it was going to lose money, but the question was, What does Bill want? Bill wanted the museum, so the board authorized that project. He explained that if he does have a bias toward the MOPAR performance cars its because ChryCo had seemingly so many more choices for buyers, such asRoadrunners, Chargers, Barracudas, Demons, the Duster 340, etc. mainly a 1912 locomoble and a 1907 Packard model 30. Bill Stephens' Muscle Car Lecture at Larz Anderson Museum - WordPress.com According to the government, Franklin Adell gifted Kevin Adell $6.6 million to pay a court-ordered legal judgment that was entered against the son. His daily steed out in Arizona is a 2019 Corvette Z06 coupe with 650 horses making noise under its berglass hood. Due to the cloud hanging over its head from the political investigation, it is estimated that VECO was forced to sell for far less than its market value. ", "KTUU.com Alaska's News Source Alaska's Top News, Storm Watch Weather, Politics, Sports, Health and Business Headlines", "Bill Allen sentenced to 3 years in prison, fined $750,000 | Alaska Dispatch", "Lady's first: Rachel Alexandra wins Preakness", "Bill J. Allen, Alaska Businessman at the Center of Scandal, Dies at 85", Disgraced Alaska oil executive Bill Allen dead at 85, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bill_Allen_(businessman,_born_1937)&oldid=1149515856, American chief executives of energy companies, American businesspeople convicted of crimes, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2010, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 12 April 2023, at 18:35. In 1989, Stephens was named writer, producer, narrator of the award-winning automotive TV series Wild About Wheels, produced at Global Television Network in Acton, MA and aired on The Discovery Channel. There were hundreds of cars done to that levelFranklins, lesser Packards, Fords, Chevrolets. And the only way that they made up a little bit of that money was that long before Holiday Inn bought the company, they were holding auctions. You never knew whether it was coming or going. Stephens is a six-time winner of the national Telly Award for Television Production and has won the Imperial Palace Moto Award for Excellence in Historical Automotive Television. To this day, those events stand as the greatest going-out-of-business sale the classic car world has ever seen. On March 24, 1989, the oil tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground on Bligh Reef, spilling eleven million gallons of crude oil into the waters of Prince William Sound. The notes of this interview were never given to the defense, as required by U.S. criminal law. Steven Tyler has a car collection that will leave you cryin' Bill Stevens Auto Sales, Inc. - 4227 4th St NW Albuquerque, NM 87107. He was also the only music disc jockey on the airstaff to move to the new format, co-hosting WRKO's Morning Magazine program with Norm Nathan for two years. [citation needed], In February 1973, Stephens was instrumental in one of the most ambitious promotional stunts in Connecticut radio history when he locked himself inside the WCCC AM&FM on-air studios in Hartford and played the Top 40 song "Bitter Bad" by Melanie for 35 consecutive hours to protest the station's reluctance to offer him a full-time job. Bill Stephens believes that there are a few currently affordable cars that have potential to experience a good return on your investment over the years. In 1972, at the age of 23, he enrolled in the Columbia School of Broadcasting, a correspondence course, and after completing the program, began his radio career at WRYT in Boston as a staff announcer and control board operator.