Board of Directors 2025

Tom Hovetter

President

Call

2025

I have been a member of MARC for twenty years. I was (previously) a member of Hub City Model Club in Maryland, serving as Vice-president and then serving as Hub City’s President for 10 years. In 2017, I had the honor of chairing the MARC National Meet in Gettysburg, PA. I am pleased to announce that I will, again in June of 2025, be chairing the MARC National Meet, again in Gettysburg. I have also had the privilege of being a fine point judge for three years. In 2023, through the suggestion of a MARC member and friend, I was able to institute and manage the “In Memory” column which now appears in the MAN. My love of any old car goes back as far as I can remember. I fell in love with any antique car that passed in front of my eyes. In the mid 1980’s, while still in college, my dream of owning a Model “A” became a reality. I purchased a driving, but in desperate need of restoration, 1930 two door sedan. Finding the “true love of my life”, Janora and I were married in May of 1996 and our beautiful daughter, Kalee followed two years later. As a very proud father, Kalee is now in her third year of Medical School, doing her clinical rotations in Hagerstown, MD.

Joe Valentine

Vice-President

Call

2025

I got my first Model A in 1960 at age 14. I joined the Model A Restorers Club in 1962 on the advice of my uncle who decided I should seek help with the car before destroying it from “hard” driving habits. We still have the little coupe and after an amateur restoration, I treat it kindly and give it the respect it deserves. Over the years, Judy and I have acquired additional Model As (and other collectibles) and enjoy touring, especially when our grandkids can join us. I’ve served on the MARC Board of Directors and held several officer positions in our local Region. Most of my work life has been at the Texaco Research Center in Beacon, NY testing engines, cars, and developing novel high-octane unleaded fuels for aviation. Model As are a great part of our lives and we love to drive, tune and appreciate them. I used to think I was a fairly good mechanic, but sometimes I feel the reality is that I just have a very large collection of good tools and garage equipment.

Chris Duvall

Secretary

Call

2025

About Me

I fell in love with the Model “A” Ford 13 years ago when my dad purchased a 1930 Cabriolet when I was a junior in undergraduate school. While I was in graduate school, my dad and I worked together to restore an early 1930 Tudor. Most people today would probably purchase a practical car after graduating. Not me, I purchased a 1931 DeLuxe Roadster on which I have put many thousands of miles. In 2016, my dad purchased his 1929 Roadster which we restored together and won the Henry Award in 2021 in Oshkosh. While we were restoring this car, we found the Model “A” Restorer’s Club via the Fine Point facebook page. Through the page, we met Mark Maron and Ron Ehrenhofer, both of whom were incredibly gracious and helpful to us during our restoration. We joined MARC so we could come to the Gettysburg national meet, and we were hooked. I am proof that we can expand our membership through tools like Facebook. Since Gettysburg, I have purchased several more cars, and attended every national meet. As a result, I have made some great friends along the way. I began judging Area 7 for Fine Point in 2019 at Dearborn. I believe there is something for everyone in the hobby from collecting parts and advertisements to taking multi-day tours. What I like most about MARC is the commitment to originality that seems to be an integral part of the organization. I believe we can encourage membership growth by selling the authentic Model “A” experience. Everywhere I go, it’s easy to tell that people love the Model “A” Ford..

Paul Ganninger

Treasurer

Call

2025

As a member of MARC’s Missouri Valley region I have served as President as well as holding various other offices. Married to my wife Pam for 33 years, we have two children, twins Katie and Alex. I have been active in the Model A hobby most of my life and would like to share my love A’s with others. My focus will be on the recruitment of young members to our hobby so that we can survive and thrive. Some activities that I have done. 2005 National Membership Meet m St. Louis, Missouri – Co Chairman 2018 National Meet in Branson, Missouri – Co-Chairman 2019 National Meet m Dearborn, Michigan – Co-Chairman 2017, 18,19, and 2021 Undercarriage Judge in Fine Point. I believe Board members of MARC should be an advocate of all aspects of the Model A hobby and be supportive of activities that attract NEW young members and retain existing ones. Focusing on Younger members will ensure that our hobby will survive and thrive. Retired from a career in management and finance. I presently own a Closed Cab Pickup, as well as a 160-A that I am restoring for Fine Point as well as a 60-C and 160-B for future projects.

Joe Fox

Director of Membership

Call

2025

Greetings to my Model A ‘family’. That’s how I see it… we’re a family! In the 50 years that I’ve been a MARC member, I’ve met a myriad of folks and become quite close friends with many. In 1975 I met Sandy, and also found and purchased my first Model A, a true basket case ’30 Tudor. But then, "life got in the way" . . . in a very good way of course! We got married, I got my Master’s Degree, we started a family and built a house. And somehow, by 1983 that Tudor was on the road! We became deeply involved with the local MARC Region (Western Lake Erie), later hosting MARC Meets in ’86 and ’89, then a major part of several recent Meets. I currently write the club newsletter. and enjoy driving my 400A. Building on my previous 8 years on the MARC Board of Directors, including 2 years as President, I am now able to focus on the MARC website and social media, the Youth Program, and of course, building up our membership. I strongly believe that all aspects of our hobby are critical to the longevity of MARC, and contribute to our mission of preserving interest in the Model A Ford and its place in history. All viewpoints are important, whether you like touring and driving your A, maintaining it for safe and comfortable use, or restoring and showing your car to your chosen degree of authenticity. (Yes, I’m also a ‘fine point’ judge/Team Captain!) Some enthusiasts also enjoy fashion, literature and the general history of the era. Whatever your personal interest is, together we can make MARC the best Model A Club that it can be. I am especially proud that Sandy and I were chosen as the 2023 recipients of the Kenneth G. Brady MARC lifetime achievement award. What an honor! I support the Model A Ford Foundation, Inc. (MAFFI) and Model A Ford Museum, and feel that a strong bond between our organizations is critical to the long-term success of both groups. Please contact me if you'd like to chat about any aspect of the Model 'A' hobby, or if there is any way I can help.

Jim Zimmer

Director of Regions

Call

2025

My fascination with Model A Fords began at an early age when I noticed a derelict 1930 model A four door sitting in a field in 1961. At $75 it was too much to contemplate. In 1972 I bought my first one, a non running 1929 Tudor for $500. I was thrilled when I sold it for a $25 profit a few weeks later! Since that time, Model A’s have more or less followed me home, probably owning more than 20 Model A’s at one time or another. I have restored two A’s, a 29 roadster pick up, a 31 wide bed pick up, a 1926 Model T coupe and am currently in the process of restoring a 30 standard coupe. I also have several other A drivers and projects awaiting restoration. My wife Becky and I joined MARC in 1987 and have attended many National meets and co-chaired the 2018 membership meeting in Granville Ohio. I have also had a number of articles printed in the Model A News over the years. I have been fortunate to have held director positions in 3 regional clubs, the Scioto Region in Columbus, Ohio, the Niagara Frontier Region in Buffalo, NY (also a member) and currently holding that position in the Model A Drivers of East Central Ohio region since 2018. Our regions motto is “Just Drive Them” and that is what we do!

Bill Bass

Director of Publications

Call

2025

I have been a proud member of MARC for the past sixty years and am now completing my first term as your Director of Publications and Library. It has been a great honor to have the opportunity to serve the Club in my capacity as a member of the Board of Directors. We have all been working hard to address numerous challenges facing our Club. This year I have worked with our printer to make changes to the Model “A” News that will save the Club over $7,000.00 per issue. The work of the Board is not finished, however, and for that reason I am running for a second term to try to help get the job done. In addition to my duties with MARC, I am also on the Board of the MARC George Washington Region, serving as assistant Treasurer. I have actively participated in National Meets including Gettysburg 2017, Touring Class at Dearborn 2019 and Oshkosh 2021, Fine Point judging at Morgantown 2022, Hamilton 2023, Asheville 2024 and Gettysburg 2025. I am proud to have won not only a MARC of Excellence award this year, but also the Raymond H. Matthews Commercial Vehicle Award for my 1928 76-A open cab pickup.