ERRETT LOBBAN CORD

'Errett Lobban Cord', also known as 'E. L. Cord' (20 July, 1894 - 2 January, 1974) was a leader in United States transport during the early and middle 20th century. Cord founded the Cord Corporation in 1929 as a holding company for over 150 companies he controlled, mostly in the field of transportation. The corporation controlled the Auburn Automobile Company, which built the Auburn Automobile and the Cord Automobile; Lycoming Motors; Duesenberg Inc.; New York Shipbuilding; Checker Cab; Stinson Aircraft Company; and American Airways (later American Airlines), amongst other holdings.
Born in Warrensburg, Missouri, Cord had previously been a race car driver and mechanic prior to entering into business. In 1937 he sold the Cord Corporation to the Aviation Corporation and retired to Los Angeles to earn even more millions in real estate. Cord owned several of the first radio and television stations in California and later Nevada, where he moved in the 1940s. In the call letters of his Los Angeles radio station, KFAC, the A.C. stands for Auburn Cord.
During the 1940s he filled in for a Nevada state legislator who died in the middle of his term and again rose to fame as a politician in his later life. In 1958 he was asked to run for governor of Nevada, but he refused and never explained why. He died in Reno, Nevada from cancer in 1974.
An excellent collection of his autos of interest is in Auburn Indiana (1600 S. Wayne St, Auburn IN 46706) The Auburn
★ Cord
★ Dusenberg Museum. His son, Chris is a racing driver.
E.L. Cord served as the inspiration for Gram Parsons' song, ''The New Soft Shoe.''

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External links

External links

★ Find-A-Grave profile for Errett Lobban Cord

★ Automotive History Online - Cord History and Photos

★ Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Club Website

★ CordNet - Cord lore for the enthusiast