Studebaker awards presented

Studebaker owners from 13 states gathered in downtown Custer Sept. 6  for a free show to visitors in celebration of this historic automobile brand and showing their cars and trucks. These had been manufactured from the 1920s through 1966.  
The display offered visitors the opportunity to vote for their favorite model.  Trophies were awarded at a banquet that evening based on the highest count.  Ballots were cast by people who reported they were visiting from 27 different states or four foreign countries. The show was sponsored by the Dakotas Chapter of the Studebaker Drivers Club.  
Receiving the highest number of visitors’ ballots was a fully restored blue 1959 Hawk owned by Steve and Pat Brown of Ft. Pierre.  The second highest number of votes were for a 1934 Packard coupe belonging to Lonny Koster of Deadwood.   The third highest was for a 1954 Commander Coupe shown by Rex Raasch of Waukee, Iowa. The participants also voted for their favorite car which was a 1928 Dictator.  It had been totally restored by Curt and Sheryl Hussey of St Michael, Minn.  
Several other plaques were also given at the banquet. A descendant of the Studebaker Family, Clayton Studebaker of Yankton, was present and selected a recipient for his family’s  award.  This honors a couple who successfully perform duties for the Dakotas Chapter and assist individual members in various ways. It was given this year to Kim and Brad Canfield.
Three notable trucks were also singled out including a 1962 Champ model owned by Stu Tritt of Kimball, Neb., a 1956 model belonging to Craig Randall of Broadus, Mont., and a 1949 T2 R16 Farm Truck owned by Brad and Kim Canfield. 
Additional awards were given out. These included one selected by the Custer Area Chamber of Commerce for an outstanding vehicle.  Director Dawn Murray chose the 1926 Big 16 Duplex Phaeton belonging to Rob Young of Rapid City. The Custer Mayor’s Award involved Bob Brown selecting a fully-restored  tow truck owned by Perry and Jackie Meyers ot Minatare, Neb.
The Dakotas Chapter Presidents’ plaque was given to Marlan Johansen  of Kansas City, Mo. His 1929 Dictator car was a dramatic  example of a model  which had been customized. He was present throughout the show to describe to visitors the changes he had made on the vehicle.
There was also a raffle drawing for a children’s pedal car,  and Yance Strickland assisted by randomly selecting the lucky winners, Sharon and Ed Bliss from Nebraska City, Neb.  
The Studebaker Drivers Club members arrived in Custer from many home locations on Friday evening.  On Saturday, they enjoyed a cruise through Custer State Park with 34 of them driving their Studebaker cars and trucks and others choosing their preferred vehicles with air conditioning. At noon owners stopped for a picnic at the city park in Hot Springs.  
Upon their return to Custer they could continue traveling to visit the monuments or other sights and shop and dine in town.  They departed Custer Monday morning to return home. 
—Submitted by Mary Coffin