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Automotive Hall of Fame Selects General Motors Jack Smith 1999 Automotive Industry Leader of the Year

17 November 1999

Automotive Hall of Fame Selects General Motors Jack Smith 1999 Automotive Industry Leader of the Year

    DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 17 -- The leader of the world's largest
motor vehicle manufacturer, John F. Smith, Jr., of General Motors Corporation,
has been named the Automotive Hall of Fame's 1999 Automotive Industry Leader
of the Year.
    Smith, General Motors Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, will be
honored at the Automotive Hall of Fame and Popular Mechanics Annual Awards
Luncheon at the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel in Orlando, January 23 during the
National Automobile Dealer Association's Annual Convention.
    The honor is bestowed each year to the individual who best exemplifies the
"image, foresight, leadership, integrity and purpose contributing most to the
advancement of the motor vehicle industry," says Thomas J. Feely, Hall of Fame
Chairman.
    "Smith's achievements at General Motors, combined with extensive community
and business activities, led to his selection as this year's Automotive
Industry Leader," says Feely.
    In 1999, under Smith's leadership, General Motors undertook several major
initiatives, including a five-year collaboration with Toyota to work toward
development of alternative vehicle propulsion technologies; the spin off of
Delphi Automotive Systems as a separate, independent, publicly-held
corporation; the acquisition of BNY Financial Corporation by GMAC; the
acquisition of exclusive rights to the Hummer automotive brand; the agreement
with XN Radio to bring satellite radio into GM vehicles; and Creation of e-GM,
a new business group that combines the company's electronic commerce and
Internet marketing initiatives and OnStar into a single global organization.
    Smith was born in Worcester, Massachusetts.  He received his Bachelor of
Business Administration Degree from the University of Massachusetts in 1960
and a Master of Business Administration Degree from Boston University in 1965.
    Smith is a member of The Procter & Gamble Company Board of Directors as
well as Chairman of the Economic Club of Detroit, Catalyst, and Co-Chairman of
the Business Roundtable.  He is also a Director of Detroit Renaissance and the
U.S. - Japan Business Council.  Also, Smith serves on the Board of Trustees of
the United Way of Southeastern Michigan.
    Last year's Automotive Industry Leader of the Year was Southwood J.
"Woody" Morcott, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dana Corporation.
Past honorees include Lee A. Iacocca (Ford Motor Company and Chrysler
Corporation), Roger Penske (Penske Corporation), Heinz Prechter (ASC, Inc.),
Roger B. Smith (General Motors Corporation) and Alex Trotman (Ford Motor
Company).
    The Automotive Hall of Fame recognizes and celebrates accomplished
individuals in the worldwide motor vehicle industry.  Through a variety of
engaging interactive exhibits and presentations, visitors experience the
fascinating lives and stories of the automotive industry's pioneers and
leaders.
    The Hall of Fame is at 21400 Oakwood Boulevard, Dearborn, Michigan.

You can watch and experience the grand opemning of the Automotive Hall of Fame right here on TACH