“Willie G. Davidson”

c. 2001 Rod Ice

all rights reserved

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Note To Readers: This is a column written many years ago as part of my ‘Thoughts At Large’ series for the Geauga County Maple Leaf. I had suggested a retro-themed Sportster model to Harley-Davidson and actually received a reply from Willie G. himself. A memorable tale.

Readers of this column will remember a recent tour through ‘day off’ adventures designed to relax our weary souls. An idea conceived during this moment of rest was the creation of a new model for HARLEY-DAVIDSON. Communicating the thought directly became a personal quest. I was satisfied only when the proposal was on its way to Milwaukee. (Even if it seemed unlikely that my suggestion would be accepted!)

My careful notion went directly to WILLIAM G. DAVIDSON (‘Willie G’ to the faithful) who is Vice President of Styling. His legacy with the company is priceless. Indeed, one might observe that HARLEY as we know it would not exist without the insight he provided. Corporate history has young WILLIE joining the fold in 1963. His father was WILLIAM H. DAVIDSON, erstwhile President of the firm. Grandfather WILLIAM A. DAVIDSON was one of four founders who created the enterprise. Soon, WG’s influence on the ‘look’ of this American icon was undeniable. (Much of this

came from the fact that he spent a great deal of time on the road, with his customer base!) When the 1971 FX 1200 SUPER GLIDE debuted, it was a move toward greater things. Young rebels had been ‘chopping’ the fat-fendered HAWG into shape for many years. The thought of manufacturing a cycle closer to those customized needs was a bold step into tomorrow. From that creative nugget grew a fresh perspective for H-D. Dozens of future models were made possible by that venture into uncharted territory. 
 

In my letter, I spoke of having owned three different motorcycles that were sired by the Wisconsin group. Also mentioned were family ties that caused my devotion to the brand. (My father was once a mechanic at FARROW’S H-D in Columbus, during the 1950’s.) Closing thoughts were directed toward the remarkable transformation of HARLEY-DAVIDSON since leaving AMF in 1981. Production quality, merchandising, and customer service improved dramatically. One might never suspect that in an earlier time, their incredible reserve of history and ‘style’ was nearly untapped. My proposal for a new version of the SPORTSTER series seemed lost amid these personal reflections. But I attached a ‘scan’ of the 1957 XL model to illustrate my point. 
 

Soon, an envelope arrived in our mailbox that boasted the familiar ‘bar and shield’ HARLEY logo. A return address on W. Capitol Drive in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin had my eyes wide open! The response came directly from WG himself. Warmly, he offered appreciation and gratitude: “Dear Rod, Thanks for your recent letter… it is always good to hear from our riders and I appreciate you taking the time to write to me with your thoughts and comments!” He completed the note with an appropriate salutation, “Ride Free!” It was signed in his own script, “Willie G.”

While sharing the reply with my wife, I used our 1989 edition of THE BIG BOOK OF HARLEY-DAVIDSON to demonstrate Willie’s development within the company .

A favorite photograph depicts the corporate staff (circa 1978) posed on various motorcycles produced that year. Vaughan Beals, John Davidson, and the rest are clothed in standard executive attire. But Willie G. is notable for his beard, leather jacket, and boots! Always, he has been ‘one of us’ instead of strictly a management figure. This bond produced an understanding of the phenomenon that transcends ‘opinion polls’ and ‘customer surveys’. No other business can be said to have such a unique connection with its patrons. 
 

The response from WG immediately found a place of honor in my personal archives. It provides an example of the best in consumer recognition. Success has come in great measure to the descendants of those fellows from Milwaukee. With this kind of heartfelt, emotional connection to those of us who ride, it is certain that the glory of HARLEY-DAVIDSON will continue to grow!

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