Who Is Allpar? - Brief Bios of Some Contributors

Full pages:

Jim Benjaminson, Plymouth Owners Club officer, noted auto historian, and prolific Allpar contributor
Bob Sheaves, noted engineer, design process and CATIA expert, Allpar contributor, and independent thinker
Bob O’Neill, forum and meet leader, idea man, and frequent contributor
Bob Lincoln, frequent contributor and forums friend
“Pappy” Gene, frequent forums contributor
Pete Hagenbuch, a constant resource for information and inspiration, and an esteemed Chrysler Corp. engineer
Ray Alexander, road racer, expert driver, and enthusiast
David Zatz, webmaster
Richard Benner, occasional contributor and retired Chrysler autoworker
Mike Sealey, late frequent contributor and fixer of our mistakes

Jim Choate (forums chief)

Jim Choate was born into a Chevrolet family in October of 1965, and like most little boys had a big interest in cars. Not so much detailed mechanicals, but overall design and execution. He can recall only a few select times when there wasn't a Chevy product in the driveway, but he didn't let that stop him from appreciating other cars as well. His family did own a Plymouth Horizon in the late 70s/early 80s, and remembers that his older sister's choice of her 'first car' was the Horizon or a 1973 Mustang Grande (she took the Mustang.) A Ford F-150 pickup, a late 60s Mustang convertible (white with red interior), a Jeep CJ-5, and an AMC Gremlin are the few cars he remembers wiggling into the usually GM-only driveway. After experiences with his own cars (a couple Chevys, a few Fords, and one Hyundai), he now owns a 1998 Dodge Stratus and is the webmaster for Stratusphere.org - a thriving online community (2000+ and growing) for owners of the "Cloud Cars."

Jim is [or was, in 2009] a married father of two boys (7 and 2), which allows him to indulge in purchasing additions to his ever-growing collection of "Hot Wheel-size" production and concept cars without annoying his wife too much.

Bill Cawthon (major news contributor)

Bill Cawthon grew up in the auto industry in the 1950s. His Dad worked for Chrysler and Bill spent a number of Saturdays down on the plant floor at Dodge Main in Hamtramck.

Today, Bill is the editor of Model Railroad News, an international hobby magazine. He is also active in automotive journalism, reporting for Allpar and as a regular contributor to just-auto.com, a British auto industry publication.

Bill has owned five Plymouths (including the only 1962 "Texan"), one Dodge and one Chrysler and is still trying to figure out how to justify a Wrangler. He also has owned at least one of every 1:87 scale model of a Chrysler product.

Bill and Marge Cawthon live outside of Houston, Texas. They have four children and four grandchildren.

Bill Watson (frequent contributor)

Bill Watson's first ride in a car was his father's 1936 Graham Supercharger touring sedan. However, there are no memories as the ride was from the hospital when he was born in 1950. The first car he can remember is his father's 1940 Plymouth, bought soon after Bill was born.

His father says Bill could recognize and name cars a block away by the age of five. His father's various Chryco products, 1950 Dodge Special Deluxe, 1955 Dodge Regent, and 1965 Dodge 330 (slant six) galvanized his interest in things Chrysler. He learned to drive on the 1965 Dodge 330. He turned down a 1962 Valiant sedan for a 1965 Envoy Epic as his first car, a decision he regretted about a month after he bought it. But, the Envoy was replaced by a 1972 Dodge Dart sedan, and it has been Mopar ever since.

His one and only new car was a 1978 Dodge Monaco Brougham and the list includes various cars from a 1949 DeSoto Custom to his present driver, a 1983 Imperial with EFI that works. The oddballs include three Studebakers and a 1984 Renault Fuego. In addition to the Imperial, the collection presently consists of a 1964 Studebaker Commander 6, 1963 Studebaker Lark V8 taxi, 1962 Valiant Signet 200, and a 1962 Lancer GT. In his teens, Bill started collecting articles and brochures. Since then he collection has expanded with car brochures (now at 5,500 - not all Mopar), articles, clippings, photos, manuals, books, etc. It would now take about eighty file boxes to pack up. The collection is presently in three locations as his apartment is too small. He hates moving. Single, he shares his apartment with his "paper car" collection and two cats.

Curtis Redgap (contributor)

Read all of Curtis’ articles on allpar

What can you say about the son of a Chrysler-Plymouth dealer and former cop who has written some of Allpar's most interesting material? Well, you can read what you can of his personal history ... he wrote: "I first joined ALLPAR back when Dr. Dave set out parameters to try to stop the 'merger' back in 1998. I was so impressed that I about wrote my life story in the 'Insider' series about a history of the Corporation with a view on Plymouth. My grandfather and father were owners of a direct outlet Chrysler Product Store. We handled everything that Chrysler Corp built, and even on occasion saw Canadaian vehicles such as Fargo trucks. I was 9 years old when I pushed my father into letting wash vehicles. My Dad had heart problems, and without so much as a whisper, sold the store in 1964. That was not the end of my involvement with ChryCo. I had joined the Police Explorer club in 1961, and managed to swing a couple shifts a week as an assistant dispatcher. After serving a stint in the US Air Force, I came out after 4 years to re-join my department. I moved to the Sheriff's Office in 1971, and was promoted to Fleet Manager (Lieutenant) in 1974. I stayed there until 1984. My last job was to spec out the 1984 models, and the Plymouth Gran Fury was chosen out of the state bid. I have a Bachelor's Degree and currently work for the Federal Government in an agency that has been absorbed by the new Homeland Security."

Mike Holler (contributor)

Known on Allpar forums as mpgmike, Mike also contributes to mpgResearch.com. He has contributed many columns to Allpar, most of which feature step by step instructions with photos. In real life, Mike works with several companies, including Turbos Unleashed, as a consultant.

Pete Jackson (contributor)

pete jackson

Pete’s screen name is now poorboy_616; it had been “the parts god” (one of his regular customers gave him this nickname). He wrote:

I have been repairing vehicles ever since I could walk, or turn a wrench (which came first, I don't remember). My father was my mentor up until I took my first automotive technology course in high school. Now he looks for me for advice... (Interesting how the table has turned...)

I have two years of formal automotive technology training at Clark County Vocational Skills Center in Vancouver, Washington. I was also a Washington state finalist in the Ford/AAA student national auto skills competition in 1997.

I now have four years of experience in Auto Parts split between NAPA and Schuck's Auto Supply and about a year’s worth of experience in Diesel Engine rebuilding at Detroit Diesel Corp. I have also turned wrenches for a number of years repairing my friends and family.

I also have a wife and two children, whom I love dearly.

Mike Sealey (contributor / editorial staff)

Mike Sealey came home from the hospital in a 1949 DeSoto in July of 1955, and cannot remember a time in his life when he was not hugely into cars. Growing up in a MoPar family probably helped Mike develop leanings toward his favorite manufacturer, but he feels he could have gone a different way were it not for the overall excellence of the 1964 Dodge Dart 270 he had as a teenager, and the day-by-day reliability of the Coronets and Satellites he drove when first starting in the cab business in the 1970s. Today Mike drives a cab in San Francisco, where he anxiously awaits the introduction of a new generation of rear-wheel-drive Chrysler products so he can go back to a MoPar cab. He is a divorced father of two (Duane and Kaitlin), and presently owns a 1957 Plymouth Sport Suburban, a '64 Chrysler 300-K, a 1977 Jeep Wagoneer and an 1987 Chrysler New Yorker.

Mike died in 2005, and we now have a full page covering what we know of him.

Rich Hutchinson (contributor and "vacation" news writer)

Rich was raised on (and in) Mopars as a child, and has clear memories of all of them: the 66 and 73 Dodge Monacos, the 76 Chrysler Cordoba, the various Plymouth Horizons; and later the EEK New Yorker and Imperial. He has owned only Chrysler products: Two Horizons (1981 and 1985), a 1989 Lebaron coupe, and currently a 1995 Plymouth Neon Highline coupe he doesn't ever want to give up. He is married and lives in central New Jersey, and his wife drives a 1992 New Yorker Fifth Avenue she doesn't want to give up either.

Pete Hagenbuch (models, engines)

Pete Hagenbuch was an engine development engineer for Chrysler. Click here for a full page on Pete along with two interviews.

Mathilda Patterson

Mathilda has been an Allpar forums member since 1999. She wrote:

What can I say… I’m honored, and humbled, to be among the most noteworthy, and dedicated contributors here at Allpar. While my join date says 2002… I’ve been a member here since 1999, and I’ve learned a great deal in my time here.

Admittedly, I don’t have the years of experience, or connections as my worthy counterparts. However, I’ve brought the personal element to Allpar.

For years, I’ve said: “Visiting Allpar gives one the feeling they are talking to their buddy down the street, as opposed to someone across the/in another country.” The sense of family here is second to none.

I’m just a regular Jane off the street, who happens to be a certified Car Nut. I’ve bridged that stereotype that “women aren’t interested in this stuff”. Most of my experience lies with the EEKs… moreover, the P bodies (Shadows/Sundances/Dusters). I’ve had a literal parade of Ps pass through my life over the years, and I find these wonderful little cars a true pleasure. Not only to enjoy on the road, but to work on , and restore as well.

Bohdan Bodnar (technical contributor)

Bohdan Bodnar holds a PhD in electrical engineering. He was employed at Bell Laboratories and was responsible for performance engineering on the 5ESS Switch project in its various aspects -- call processing, overload control, wireless applications, design of field and laboratory experiments, detailed modeling and simulation. Bohdan supervised Master and PhD students in packet switching and IP router design theses; one thesis resulted in a patent filing. He holds Unites States and foreign patents in overload control, distributed database management, router design, and specialized hardware. Notable projects included designing the cache replacement algorithm used in Motorola's MC68060 processor, end-to-end performance management of the 5ESS wireless backbone, and running a field experiment by a mosquito-infested swamp.

Bohdan is currently a Distinguished Member of Technical Staff at Motorola. His responsibilities include improving laboratory test methodology, high-load handling design for wireless networks, analysis of field conditions, and improving processes used for wireless systems engineering.

Bohdan speaks fluent Ukrainian, holds a Sho Dan (first-degree black belt) in Seisan Ryu Bushi Do Kai, and enjoys listening to classical music. He became interested in automotive servicing after purchasing a 1986 Le Baron that entered the "problem of the week" plan immediately after the warranty expired. His automotive servicing instructor was one of the top technicians in Northern Illinois. Bohdan's areas of interest in automotive work are drivability, emission control, electrical problems, and computer controls.

Richard L. Benner, Jr. (contributor)

A retired Chrysler employee, Richard Benner currently teaches and attends car shows. He has written a brief autobiography for Allpar, and has contributed many photos including some rare turbine shots and the last American Lebaron being assembled.

Lanny Knutson (contributor)

LANNY KNUTSON has been editor of the Plymouth Bulletin, official magazine of the Plymouth Owners Club, since 1987. He lives in Erickson, Manitoba, Canada, and owns two vintage Plymouths: a 1949 P18 Special Deluxe sedan and a 1964 Valiant Signet convertible.

Chris Houlihan ("E8502")

Chris Houlihan, A.K.A. “E8502,” is currently employed by the United States Federal Government under the Department of Homeland Security. A Gulf War veteran, Chris worked for the Department of Defense for 13 years before moving to the DHS in 2003.

Chris has been a long time Mopar fan, and has driven Mopar’s his entire life. His first car was a 1977 Chrysler Cordoba, followed by a brand new 1985 Jeep Comanche purchased for only $7,295 (what a deal!). Over the years, Chris has owned many more Mopars, including a Jeep Wagoneer, two Chrysler Concorde’s, a Plymouth Neon, a number of Chrysler ragtops and JA cars, a handful of Dodge Trucks, an early 90s Jeep Wrangler, and his current stable of cars, a 2001 Chrysler LHS, 2001 Dodge Dakota, 2004 Chrysler Sebring Convertible used as a “summer car,” and a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan used as a gov’t issued work vehicle that conveniently doubles as a kid hauler for Chris’ family.

Chris became involved with Mopar web forums in the late 1990’s, when he was a regular of the famous Car-Truck insider info site. After Car-Truck was closed down, he began to lurk on Allpar Forums. In 2003, following the debut of the Chrysler 300C concept car, Chris registered at Allpar Forums under the name “E8502.” Since summer of ‘03, Chris has been an active member of the forums, poster of Allpar News, and moderates many of the News & Rumors forums. Over the course of his tenure at Allpar, Chris became involved with DodgeMagnum.net, a new website and forums dedicated to the LX platform vehicles. Enthusiastically, along with many other on the forums, Chris was deeply involved in the infamous “Charger Threads” of 2004 at both DodgeMagnum.net and Allpar. Currently an administrator of LXForums.com and SRT8OC.com, Chris also posts on DodgeIntrepid.net and browses many of the other well known Mopar forums on the net such as DodgeTalk and DodgeForum.

A lifelong resident of Massachusetts, Chris who is 36, lives in Worcester with his wife of 12 years and their two children, ages 5 and 1. In addition to his home in Worcester, Chris enjoys vacationing at his waterfront house on Cape Cod, where he keeps his 32” Boston Whaler docked. When Chris isn’t working, posting on car forums, or boating, he enjoys working with his many Apple computers, sketching, playing with his children, rooting for the Red Sox and Patriots, playing piano for various local musicals as well playing a tenor recorder, and collecting die-cast model cars.

Michael Dickens

Michael Dickens resides in Oakland, Calif. and has lived in the Bay Area for nearly 16 years. He's a northerner by birth (Minneapolis), a southerner in spirit (Ocean Springs, Miss.), a midwesterner at heart (Saint Paul), and has degrees in American History (Macalester College) and mass communication (University of Minnesota). Michael has been published in various media, including the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Macalester Today and American Libraries magazine. He writes a blog about music, sports, and urban travel, "A Tuesday Night Memo."

Jessica T. Eustice

Jessica Thompson Eustice is from Durham, North Carolina. She remembers the Valiant her mother drove in the 1970s. Jessica’s parents played old-time American folk-music, so she met and rubbed shoulders with farmers, coal miners, textile mill workers, tobacco laborers, musicians and songwriters.

Jessica earned her BA in History at Macalester College in 1983, and her Masters in Special Education at UNC in 1985. Ms. Eustice has been a camp counselor, a puppeteer, a retail admin person, a Special Education Teacher and a tutor. She has had little things published here and there over the years. She worked with Manbites Dog Theater to write and produce A Tune for Tommy, from 1/2001 to 3/2002. She has published in The Old Time Herald and The Folk life Center News. Ms. Eustice's online letters about her father are linked to the Red Clay Rambler Website under the heading Jesse's Letters. Ms. Eustice is now doing graduate work at NCCU in History.