Re: PMCC Exec: Ed Cunningham Passed Away

Posted by BH On 2012/4/5 16:23:20

It was just plain dumb luck that I happened to meet Ed Cunningham many years ago at one of the Perrysburg (OH) meets, and I didn't even know who he was at the time.

I was admiring a '56 Caribbean Hardtop (MES) on the show field, when the owner passed by and struck up a conversation with me - said he had worked at Packard. He popped open the trunk and proudly showed me a paint and trim chart that he had worked up for 56th Series, but was a bit disappointed that it didn't find its way into the dealer showroom album. Unfortunately, we didn't have much time to talk - each headed in different directions.

Years later, when I found a 55th Series album with paint chips intact (typically missing), it included a chart that immediately evoked a recollection of my encounter with Ed. The 1955 CLIPPER and PACKARD Color and Interior Chart was a brilliant depiction of paint and trim availability by each model and all of the paint schemes, shown in a relatively concise 2-axis chart. Ed had extended his concept to the 56th Series, but that year's album went in a completely different direction (and supplier).

Ed was clearly a man of talent and an asset to the organization. Yet, he was very easy to talk with and had a great sense of humor. The story of "Phartedon White" (sound it out) has to be one of the funniest things I ever heard, but not the only bit of fun he had. He must have been one of the youngest executives at Packard at that time; can't be many of them left now.

Sad that both he and the Perrysburg Meet are no more.