Former journalist, PR veteran, Automotive Information employees member Dick Plumb dies at 97

Charles R. “Dick” Plumb, who headed public relations for Rockwell Worldwide’s automotive unit for greater than 20 years, died peacefully at his residence in South Carolina on Could 8. He was 97.

Early in his profession, Plumb labored as a reporter and editor for a number of small day by day and weekly newspapers in Michigan, together with The Michigan Each day, Huron County Tribune and South Macomb Information. He then joined the Detroit Free Press, the place he held varied editorial roles, together with copy editor and make-up editor.

In 1963, Plumb joined Automotive Information as a employees reporter and editor. He later served as director of selling for the publication.

Plumb transitioned to company communications in 1969 when he was employed by Rockwell Worldwide and located his true skilled calling. He ultimately grew to become director of communications for Rockwell’s gentle car elements enterprise (subsequently bought by Meritor, which now’s being acquired by Cummins).

Plumb was the consummate, old style PR man recognized for his memorable press journeys — together with annual Indy 500 outings — and constructing long-lasting relationships with journalists, lots of whom grew to become lifelong pals.

“I first met Dick when he was a staffer at Automotive Information and I used to be enterprise editor of the Free Press someday through the 1960s. Not lengthy after Dick made the leap to PR with Rockwell, which is the place I bought to know him effectively.” stated longtime Detroit automotive journalist Dave Smith. “I at all times thought he was among the many greatest among the many scores of automotive PR people I labored with: sensible, enthusiastic, extraordinarily educated and a gentleman who by no means strayed too removed from his journalism roots.”

Plumb was born in Yates Heart, Kan., in 1924. He met his future spouse Juanita in highschool, the place they performed the romantic leads in a faculty play and labored on the college newspaper collectively. They celebrated their 76th anniversary final 12 months.

After beginning faculty on the College of Kansas, Plumb enlisted within the U.S. Navy as a part of the V-12 School Coaching program throughout World Struggle II. After the struggle, he earned a bachelor’s diploma in journalism and an MBA from the College of Michigan.

Along with Juanita, Plumb is survived by kids Chris (Torres), Rick, Kim (Cahill) and Steve; sons-in-law Mark Torres and Bob Cahill; and grandchildren Laura, Evan, Danielle and Addison.