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Fred McPeck Oral History

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Call NumberOH507CreatorMcPeck, Fred, 1927-ContributorColorado Voice PreserveDate2013 October 19SummaryFred McPeck was born in Bellefontaine, Ohio in 1927. In 1943, he started work building airplane engines for the war effort. Three years later, he joined United States Marine Corps, and was stationed at Camp Lajeune North Carolina, Bermuda, Cuba, and Panama. After his discharge, Fred attended Miami University in Ohio. In 1950, he began selling ambulances throughout the area. He was soon promoted to sales management in New England and New York, and later Director of Dealer Recruitment. In the early 1950’s Fred began skiing in Colorado. While on these trips he would often visit car dealerships in Denver, Colorado. After moving to Denver, in 1966, Fred started a specialty vehicle dealership McPeck Motor Coach at 13th and Pearl Street. In 1969, the business was moved to a former post office in the Elyria neighborhood. In 1990, Fred was diagnosed with and overcame cancer. As of November 2013, he and his wife live in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. In the Interview Fred McPeck discusses his early life as an ambulance and specialty car dealer in Ohio and Denver. He discusses his work and ski trips he took through Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Idaho, and Colorado, as well as his international clientele. Fred discusses his former employees, his business practices and partners. He talks about his efforts in the Swansea and Elyria neighborhoods in building the Swansea Recreation Center and the business association, the impact of industry, the RTD station, Interstate-70, medical marijuana, and Denver Housing Authority’s impact on the neighborhoods.Physical Description1 audio file (83:47)SubjectMcPeck, Fred, 1927-Elyria-Swansea (Denver, Colo. : Neighborhood)Skiing.Geographic AreaDenver (Colo.)

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Fred McPeck at Valdez-Perry Branch Library