| Notes about Roger Ward from Friends | ||
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Ohhh, Richard, cherish all those outings with
Rodger. He was a very special man and the memories will keep him close. I think it was late '69 or in the '70's, a small group of us boarded Rodger's plane ...a DC-3, maybe? and flew to Phoenix for a race. It was about the time Ontario Motor Speedway was under construction, but don't think it had opened yet. I remember a handful of Ontario Speedway pals on the plane and we sure had fun. I went to Ontario's inaugural race, which I think was Nov/Dec of '70? And now? that great state-of-art racing venue is an outlet mall!!! Jim and I would bump into Rodger during Indy 500 week in Indpls. I think the last time we saw Rodger was May '97 at the Holiday Inn at the Pyramids, just off I-465...not far from the IMS. I've included Rodger's name on the "Memory Page" of the 2004 Jim Murray Memorial Golf Classic souvenir journal. I'll make sure you get a copy (late October). Be well. Linda <Lmccoypr@aol.com> July 10, 2004 SAVE THE DATE: Monday, October 18, 2004. Sixth Annual
Jim Murray Memorial Dear Evey -
1) From Garry Baker (mayhem@alphalink.com.au)
in Australia.
Rosie Rousell, lives in Bakersfield, and Rodger in 2003 Hila Sweet's Car
Racers Reunion
Thanks for the message on the passing of Rodger Ward. I first met Rodger @
Altamont Speedway in the early 70's, along with the late Sonny Easley.
We flew back to Burbank together. The next time we met Rodger was at
the TV studio in L.A.
(where we also met you Richard). It was a privilage to share the spotlight with Rodger and You and, J. C. Agajanian Jr. on Richard Marcella's show w/Bob Kindoll. Our prayers go out to the Ward family. Sincerely, Anthony & Jamie Cardoza Hollywood Pit Stop (acepix@bigvalley.net)
I met Rodger late in his life when Hila Sweet asked me to take him to
the events. Rodger had lost his driving privileges and was unable to
get out. Jim Davis, Ron Henderson, Hila Sweet and I took him to
various events and it was a real privilege to be able to do that for
Rodger. We really enjoyed his company. I remember driving him to the
Car Racers reunion in Victorville, and to the Fabulous 50's parties at
the Petersen and Anne Bothwell's ranch. We also went to Walt James'
CRA reunion, and to the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum on several
occasions. It was fun going out to Don Weaver's Legends of Ascot
Reunion at Perris Auto Speedway. Rodger kept on saying, "aren't we
there yet." And we would howl with laughter because it had been so
many years that we couldn't remember how long it takes. It took a
looonnnngggg time. I remember taking Rodger and Danny Oakes to the
Turkey Night races and how they put the two gentlemen on the stage and
on the TV interviews and how the crowds came up and paid them
homage. It brought back the old days, the crowds and the adoring
fans. It rekindled life in them again to know that they are still
being remembered today. Then we went up to L.A. to be interviewed on
a car show run by Richard Marcella. Hila, Ron, Rodger and I went to
Vic Edelbrock's Museum to pay our final respects to Spider Cole and to
tell all the funny, sad and strange stories about a man who was a
loner, but whose exploits still keep us in stitches.
We went to Torrance for the book signing by Bobby Unser. Every where we went we saw Alice Hanks, Art Evans, Carroll Shelby and a host of others who loved Rodger.
Memories fail me or I could tell you about the other things that we
did together. The group was usually Danny Oakes, Rodger, Ron
Henderson, Jim Davis, Hila Sweet, Ralph Foster and myself. We had a
great time. Each of us had stories to tell. Oakes, Henderson and
Rodger would talk about their marriages, and brag a bit. "I had 5,"
said one. "I had 6," said two more. I groaned and said, "you beat
me. I haven't been able to get rid of mine in all of these years."
Ralph Foster and Rodger used to talk about the planes that they flew
in WWII. Ron Henderson used to discuss racing designs with Rodger.
Hila Sweet and Parnelli Jones talked about their racing adventures
with Rodger. Danny Oakes and Rodger went back a long ways and talked
about the good old days of racing. We only had a short time with
Rodger, but we did a lot in that time, and I hope it helped him as he
faced ill health, to know that people still loved and admired him.
Thanks for passing along the information on Roger Ward's memorial
service. I won't be in California, but Roger and his family will be
in my prayers on Sunday, from Ohio. Bill Johnson
William Glenn Johnson, 274 Chagrin Boulevard, Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022 440.247.1987 chagrinfalls@yahoo.com
He was also a very nice guy...and patiently taught me how to drive the
Indy oval in 1970 in the Olds pace car. He was extremely smooth and
precise, taking the convertible within a foot of the wall coming out
of turns one and four, with me in the passenger seat. (The subhead of
the story in Motor Trend, BTW, was Why A.B. Shuman will be bald at
40.) A.B. Shuman
THE FABULOUS FIFTIES ASSOCIATION, 800 South Pacific Coast Highway,
Redondo Beach, California 90277-1755 Phone (310) 540-8068, Fax (310)
373-5988, e-mail: f50s@yahoo.com,
www.fabulous-fifties.com,
July 7, 2004
Dear Non-member, It is with a great deal of sadness that I must report to you that two-time Indy winner and two-time National Champion, Rodger Ward passed away on Monday, July 5. He was a loyal non-member and attended every Fabulous Fifties event that he could. I’m told that during his last years, our gatherings were his favorite times. The service will be held at the San Diego Automotive Museum, an institution Rodger helped to establish and organize. The service will be on Sunday, July 11, starting
at 5 p.m. The museum is located in Balboa Park. It’s address is 2080 Pan
American Plaza, Number 12. All non-members and their guests are invited to
attend. We plan a special edition of the newsletter. If anyone would like to
contribute, please do so. If you wish to send condolences to the family, mail
to Rodger’s widow, Sherri Ward, at 24701 Raymond Way #29, Lake Forest, CA
92630 Sherri had told me that anyone who wishes to will be allowed to speak at
the service. Hope to see you there, Art Evans
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