The young men who originally formed the Dukes Auto Club in 1946 have grown older and passed away. This page is a special tribute to them and to others who carried forward into the 1960s.

(Trying to reconstruct how things were 80 years ago is difficult at best. If you would like to help us accurately compose a better picture, please send us a note. info@dukesautoclub.com)

We celebrate 1946 as the beginning of the Dukes Auto Club.

The Dukes Auto Club in Spokane was founded by these young men in the 1946 to 1949 time frame. What began as a small group of friends with informal meetings in 1946 was solidified and formalized by 1949. To the best of our ability to look back 80 years, here the real Founder’s List from the 1940s.

Bob Hoover (First President)
Jerry Hoover
Harry Prouty
Stu Young
Bill Wyman
Lyle Orness
Jim Mehulky
Kayo Reidburn
Butch Miller
Dick Barton
Chubby Barton

By the late 50s, car clubs were a real craze and the Dukes were the premier club in Spokane.

Prominent/notorious members in the 50s and 60s include the following:

  • Frank Moyer: His first car and the one he joined the Dukes with was a 1932 Ford Coupe.

  • Gene "Sandy" Sponcler: Owned a 1955 Chevy.

  • Jerry Davis: His first car in 1957 was a 1940 Ford.

  • Joe Felice: Owned a Model A Ford Roadster.

  • Ken Spiger: Joined the club with a 1941 Willys Pickup.

  • Larry Becker: Owned a 1950 Mercury Stretch Limo, a Model A Vicky, and a Model T Ford C-Cab.

  • Nick Linden: Owned a 1929 Model A Ford.

  • Speedy Gunsaulis: Owned a 1940 Ford Convertible and a 1932 Ford Roadster.

  • Carl Owen: Owned a 1940 Merc Coupe.

  • Al Davis

  • Bill Payne

  • Bob Tully

  • Buddy Wickstrom

  • Claude Cuzzetto

  • Colonel Walker

  • Dan Martin