Like theme shows of the past, the goal of our Dazzling DeVilles show is to be one of the largest gatherings of DeVilles in recent Mid-Atlantic Area history.  Every 1949-1970 DeVille owner is encouraged to attend this very special show.  To celebrate the event, each registered owner will receive a commemorative dash plaque illustration of a DeVille that renowned artist Dan Reed is creating especially for this show.  Also each registered owner will be given a commemorative show program highlighting the history of DeVilles and featuring a description of each DeVille pre-registered for the show.  In addition, the DeVille owners will also receive a framed certificate of appreciation for participating.  It is time for the 1949-1970 DeVille owners to take their place alongside the V-12 / V-16, Eldorado, LaSalle, Capitol Cadillac Alumni Car and Fleetwood owners who have been featured at the Potomac Region’s past theme-related car shows.
 

Capitol Cadillac is an easy five minute drive from the Holiday Inn Greenbelt where rooms will be reserved for the night before the show at a special rate.  The Holiday Inn Greenbelt will also be the site for a dinner the night before the show hosted by past CLC President Richard Sills & Shelley Chadick. 

Illustrations by Bob Eng
 

May 2011: Each year, Old Cars Weekly selects national and regional publications for its Golden Quill Award based on various categories.  This year’s winners appeared in the May 12th issue and included numerous CLC publications.  I am proud to announce that the Caddie Chronicle was among the publications that won (This is our fourth Golden Quill Award!).  Below is the list of CLC winners:

 National Compact
- The Self-Starter, Steve Stewart, Editor

Regional Full Size
- La Cad, Terry and Robyn Griffin, Editors, CLC of Australia

Regional Compact
- Caddie Chronicle, Vince Taliano, Editor, CLC Potomac Region
- Cadillac Past, Chris Milici, Editor, CLC New England Region
- The Herald, Stephen Page, Editor, CLC Northstar Region

Regional Sub Compact
- The Standard, Kevin Luedtke, Editor, CLC Motor City Region

Honorable Mention
- The Dagmar, David Leger, Editor, CLC Rocky Mountain Region
- Tailfin, Gary Fisher, Editor, CLC Central Ohio Region
- The Voice, Karen and Jim Pittman, Editors, CLC Iowa Crossroads Region

Also, CLC Potomac Region members Grace Gluck (Metropolitan Skyline, CCCA Metro Region) and Bill Anderson (Boomtimes, Buick Owners of America) each won a Golden Quill Award for their non-CLC publications.

Special thanks to Sandy Kemper, Richard Sills and Steven & Margo Sisson for reviewing and enhancing each issue prior to publication, to Shelley Chadick for distributing the U.S. mail version and to everyone listed below for submitting stories and/or photos in 2010.

AACA Museum  Bob & Carolyn Archer  Paul Ayres  Fred Bausch  J. Roger Bentley  Jeffrey Bliemeister  Joe Bortz  George & Rita Boxley  Glenn Brown  Martina Butler  Cadillac & LaSalle Club  www.Caddyedge.com  Pat Caruso  Lou Commisso  Bob Crimmins  Chris Cummings  Randy & Susan Denchfield  Nick Ferrantino  April Grammont
Lee Herbermann  Andrea Jacoby  Ivars Jaunrubenis  Daniel Jobe  Mike Jones  Paul Katson  Sandy Kemper
Lars Krantz  Matt Larson  Richard Lentinello  Jack McClow  Mark McCourt  Robert McLellan  Tom McQueen 
Gregg D. Merksamer  R. Scot Minesinger  Barton Mitchell  Roberto Morbiato  Tom Musson  Bob Norrid  
Warren Oates  Chuck O’Bryan  David O’Steen  Vern Parker  Grant Patterson  Chuck & Debbie Piel 
The Pinola Family  Brenda Priddy  Dan Reed  Dan Ruby  Henry & Diane Ruby  Steve Rummel  Alessandro Salami  Yann Saunders  Harry & Julia Scott  SEMA  Jeff Shively  The Smithsonian Museum  Lisa Snider  Richard Sills  Steven & Margo Sisson  Gary Sutherlin  Tom Tau  Steven Tuck  Ron VanGelderen  Michael Veilleux 
Cliff Woodbury  Jack Wade  Darshan Zenith
 

Steven’s involvement with the CLC all started in the summer of 1968 when he and his brother Richard answered a classified ad in The Washington Post for Cadillac parts being disposed of by the widow of a collector who had several 1938-40 era senior Cadillacs.  After being led to the parts stash in the basement, they met Ron VanGelderen who was rummaging through the parts.  They soon learned that Ron owned a small fleet of some 4 or 5 collector Cadillacs and he recently moved to McLean, Virginia from Chicago. They invited Ron to their Dad’s nearby home to see Steven’s ‘46 convertible.  Talking there, they were amazed to learn that Ron had come from a very active CLC Region in Chicago and he had already become distressed to learn that there was no active local Region in the Washington, DC area.  A few months later, Ron called Steven and asked if he could come up with a mailing list of interested Cadillac fanciers in the area.  Ron wanted to explore the idea of forming a local region.  Steven said yes because he was a member of the local AACA Region and CHVA Region and knew a lot of people.  He came up with some 20-25 names and forwarded them on to Ron.  Then Ron and his wife Sherie did the mailings and invited the people on Steven’s list to their home for a meeting.

The first meeting took place in January 1969 with some 15-20 potential members in attendance and was featured in The Self-Starter.  Ron led the meeting and announced that he wanted to get a local Region started.  Later in 1969, the first meet was held at Turkey Run Park in McLean, Virginia with 12 classics in attendance.  About a month or so later, another get together was held at his home and after some discussion, it was decided that the Region would be called “Potomac” and Steven Sisson would be its first Director.  The first order of business was to apply to the National Club for provisional status and to get a good mailing list organized.  These things were done and the Potomac Region was off and running. 

Steven directed the infant organization from 1969–1976.  It was very loose in a number of ways in the early days, including not even requiring dues for the first couple of years. The hat was passed around at the various get-togethers and this brought in enough money to buy paper supplies and pay for postage.  Steven more or less ran the club from his office on 15th Street, while also serving as its newsletter writer/editor.  Different people came up with ideas for gatherings, meetings and so forth.  Eventually dues were put in effect when it became necessary to buy trophies to give out at the national sanctioned shows. 

From the beginning, the Potomac Region kept growing.  In the early years of the 1970s, its members included a number of members who remain active today.  Besides the DC area enthusiasts, Cadillac and LaSalle owners from Pennsylvania and New Jersey made the journey south to attend Potomac Region events during the mid ‘70s.  By then, Steven who was the CLC's Eastern Vice President of Regions, felt that there was a need for a CLC Region in Pennsylvania, because, "we have a large number of members residing there, but no Region for them to be involved with."

Steve published an open letter to CLC members residing in Pennsylvania in the February 1975 The Self-Starter, promising that if there was interest in a CLC Region in Pennsylvania, “The New York, Potomac, and New England Region people will assist you in getting started and I assure you I will give you all of the guidelines necessary.”  From this appeal came the Valley Forge Region which has not only flourished but has become one of the most active Regions in the CLC and host of the club’s 50th Anniversary Party, the 2008 CLC Grand National. 

For a time during the ‘80s and the early ‘90s when the Potomac Region became less active and questions were raised about its continued viability, it was the Valley Forge Region -- which had begun with an enthusiasm sparked by the Potomac Region – that provided welcome support to its neighbor to the south.  Several Valley Forge Region members joined the Potomac Region when it was trying to build its membership back up, and a considerable number of cars with Pennsylvania and New Jersey license plates continued to regularly attend the Potomac Region’s meets and shows. 

The Potomac Region survived until its recent resurgence in 2003, due in part to Steven’s efforts over the years, as well as the car shows sponsored since 1992 by Capitol Cadillac and Daniel Jobe.  Since 2003, Steven developed the club’s initial website; participated in the design of the Region’s logo and served as Activities Director, liaison with the Central VA Region, newsletter columnist and proof-reader and co-chair of the 2009 CLC National Driving Tour.    

In addition, he continued to attend numerous national CLC and AACA events across the country including Grand Nationals held in California, Georgia and New Jersey, respectively.  His account of the numerous events had been a featured column in the Caddie Chronicle and his story on the 2006 Charlotte Auto Fair Spring Meet was also featured in Hemmings Classic Car. 

Steven truly exemplified the best that the hobby and the CLC have to offer and has been an ambassador of the club since the late 1960s.  All of us who had the privilege of knowing him will miss him greatly.  Our sincerest condolences go out to Margo, David & Donna, Richard & Jan and the entire Sisson family. 
 

There were 115 Cadillacs present including 44 Fleetwoods.  Cars were driven to the show from ten states, representing eight different CLC regions (ten regions counting the CLC members who attended without their cars).  It was a terrific gathering of exceptional automobiles. 
 

The full list of winners is below.

April 2010: Each year, Old Cars Weekly selects national and regional publications for its Golden Quill Award based on various categories.  This year’s winners appeared in the April 29th issue and included six CLC publications.  I am proud to announce that the Caddie Chronicle was among the publications that won (our third Golden Quill Award).  Below is the list of CLC-related winners:

NATIONAL AWARDS
  LACAD MAGAZINE, Terry & Robyn Griffin, Editors, CLC of Australia
  THE SELF-STARTER, Steve Stewart, Editor, CLC

REGIONS AND CHAPTERS
  CADDIE CHRONICLE, Vince Taliano, Editor, CLC Potomac Region
  METROPOLITAN SKYLINE, Grace Gluck (PR member), Editor, Metro
  Region, CCCA
  BOOMTIMES, William Anderson (PR member), Editor, Buick Owners of
  Maryland
  CADILLAC PAST, Chris Milici, Editor, CLC New England Region
  THE STANDARD, Kevin Luedtke, Editor, CLC Motor City Region
  THE DAGMAR, Dave Leger, Editor, CLC Rocky Mountain Region
  THE CRITERION, Gregg Merksamer (CLC member), Editor, PCS Northeast
  Chapter

Special thanks to Sandy Kemper, Richard Sills and Steven & Margo Sisson.  Not only did they submit stories and photos, they reviewed and enhanced each issue prior to publication.  We would also like to thank the individuals and organizations listed below for their contributions.

AACA Museum  ABC 7  Cars & Parts Magazine  The Carroll County Community Times 
The Catholic Review  Chicago FBI Press Office  CLC Modified Chapter  CLC Peach State Region 
The Detroit News  Eline Funeral Home  Gastonia NC Police Department 
The Greenbelt News Review  Hemmings Auto Blogs  IMDB  Old Cars Weekly  Our Trip Videos 
The Rocky Mountain News  The Self-Starter  Stonewall Veterans Association  The Washington Post
 

We're pleased to announce that the officers of the Potomac Region have unanimously voted in favor of “adopting” the AACA Museum's 1977 custom ordered Cadillac Seville personally owned by actress and television icon, Betty White. It was owned by the actress for 25 years. This vehicle is prominently on display in the main lobby at the Museum along with a selection of photographs covering Betty White's acting career, including an image showing the car being used in the two-part episode "Mama for Mayor," from the television series "Mama's Family." In addition, this famous car has the Potomac Region's name and website appearing on the display sign in front of the car!

The Adopt-a-Car Program offers an organization or individual the opportunity to adopt a car in the AACA Museum’s collection. By adopting a car one provides some financial support for the up-keep and maintenance of the adopted car. A contribution of $500 helps support the car for one year. The contribution covers some of the costs of insurance, any required mechanical work, supplies to keep the cars in show room condition, and other costs. Also, adoptions are important contributions to the Museum and to the automotive hobby.

Several Potomac Region members attended the adoption ceremony at the Museum held last November when the CLC Valley Forge Region and the CLC Carolina Regions each adopted a Cadillac in the Museum’s collection. With our adoption of this famous Cadillac, the Potomac Region continues to show that it is among the elite regions in the CLC.

Game Show host, Allen Ludden purchased the car for his actress wife, Betty in May 1977. The car was ordered in the custom color, Seamist Green, from Martin Cadillac in Los Angeles, California. It was given to her as a surprise gift. The vehicle sported a mere 14.3 miles when it was driven off the dealership's lot and it currently has less than 18,000 miles on the odometer. After 25 years of ownership, Betty donated the Cadillac to a charity from which it was purchased by a private collector who owned it for several years. The car's last private owner, Mr. Nicholas Ferrantino, of Houston, Texas presented it to the AACA Museum. It is in superb condition and it looks like it did when Betty White took possession of it. For further information, please visit the AACA Museum's website.
 

March 2010: Congratulations to CLC Potomac Region member Bryce Frey whose 1953 Muntz Jet was featured on the front cover of the March 25th issue of Old Cars Weekly. Read article.
 

October 2009: Capitol Cadillac's 75th Anniversary Car Show was featured in the October 15, 2009 issue of Old Cars Weekly.

The show was also featured in the October 8, 2009 issue of Hemmings eWeekly.  

Read about the show in the Caddie Chronicle.
 

Congratulations to Region member Benjamin Berman, who drove from Sarasota, FL to Las Vegas, NV and won First Place in Class P28: 1985-1999 Cadillac (without 1985 Eldorado and Seville) for his 1985 Cadillac CB69 Fleetwood Sedan.

At the Grand National, the Potomac Region also received an award, the CLC Norm Uhlir Regional Activity Award. This marks the second time that the Region has won the award. Congratulations to all the members!  See story.
 

June 2009: Vern Parker, syndicated auto columnist, launched his new web site featuring locally-owned antique cars!
 

April 2009: Each year, Old Cars Weekly selects national and regional publications for its Golden Quill Award based on various categories. This year’s winners appeared in the April 9th issue and included five Cadillac & LaSalle Club (CLC) publications.  We are proud to announce that the Potomac Region's Caddie Chronicle was among the publications that won (this is our second Golden Quill Award). Below is the list of CLC winners:

CATEGORY – REGIONAL LUXURY
     * THE SELF-STARTER, Steve Stewart, Editor, CLC
CATEGORY – NATIONAL INTERMEDIATE SIZE
     * LACAD MAGAZINE, Terry & Robyn Griffin, Editors, CLC of Australia
CATEGORY – REGIONAL COMPACTS
     * CADDIE CHRONICLE, Vince Taliano, Editor, CLC Potomac Region
     * CADILLAC PAST, Chris Milici, Editor, CLC New England Region
     * THE DAGMAR, Dave Leger, Editor, CLC Rocky Mountain Region

In addition, the CLC St. Louis Region and its Editor David Armbruster received honorable mention in the Black and White category and the Potomac Region’s Bill Anderson won as Editor of BOOM TIMES, Buick Club of America / Buick Club of Maryland, in the Regional Luxury category.

Both Remaining 1953 LeMans Scheduled to Appear
1959 Cyclone Out and 1956 Maharani In

See Show Flyer

The full list of winners is below.

May 2008: The CLC Potomac Region's Caddie Chronicle newsletter received Honorable Mention for the 2007 Old Cars Weekly Golden Quill Award (Black & White category), along with Sallee Speaks (the CLC LaSalle Appreciation Society Chapter newsletter – Editor Nancy Hotz) and The Standard (CLC Motor City Region newsletter – Editor Kevin Luedtke). Thanks to everyone who submitted articles and stories this past year.

Congratulations to the CLC publications and editors that won a 2007 Golden Quill Award

• Steve Stewart & Tim Coy for The Self-Starter, CLC National magazine (National Intermediate Size category)

• Chris Milici for Cadillac Past, New England Region newsletter (Regional Compacts category). 

The CLC was well-represented in this year’s selections.
 

THE SELF-STARTER, Steve Stewart, Editor,
Cadillac & LaSalle Club (CLC)

SALLEE SPEAKS, Nancy Hotz, Editor,
CLC LaSalle Appreciation Society

CADDIE CHRONICLE, Vince Taliano, Editor,
CLC Potomac Region

THE DAGMAR, Dave Leger, Editor,
CLC Rocky Mountain Region

Special thanks to Sandy Kemper, Richard Sills and Steven & Margo Sisson for reviewing and enhancing each issue prior to publication and to everyone who submitted stories, letters to the editor and/or photos in ‘06.
 

March 2007: The response to our Presidential Limos story has been overwhelming. Soon after it was published in the March 2007 Caddie Chronicle newsletter, Hemmings Auto Blogs, Auto Blog and other blogs across the world posted the story. Read newsletter version.