Bio: Smigaj, Ray "Red" (Retirement - 1960)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Smigaj

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 04/21/1960

Smigaj, Ray "Red" (Retirement - 16 APR 1960)

Ray "Red" Smigaj put in his last day as boss, mechanic, salesman, etc. of the Red Arrow Garage and Service Station here on Highway 29 Saturday last.

"Red" has completed forty years in the same stand and business, which is a long, long time.  On checking the Courier records, Mr. Smigaj was the oldest businessman in the same place.

He started in 1920 after World War I with his brother, Stanley.  They built the garage and the business from the "ground up."  Stanley was forced to quit work in 1945 on account of his health and Ray took over his share of the firm.

In the 1920’s he repaired such cars as the Dart, Partin Palmer, Mitchel, Maxwell, Cole, star, Model T., Oakland, Essex, Chalmers, King and Jefferies.

During his spare time "red" played with Thorp’s baseball team and was no slouch as catcher, where he performed for eight years and at first base, which position he held for the next six years.  He kept the baseball spirit alive in Thorp for a number of years after that as manager and turned out some good winning aggregations.

He will devote most of his time to making baseball bats, a hobby that has turned into a highly skilled profession.