Ed Cole: Key dates
1952: Became Chevrolet's chief engineer
1953: Chevrolet Corvette debuted
1955: Chevy introduced his small-block V-8
July 1956: Became Chevrolet general manager
1959: Corvair production began
October 1959: Cole, as "Father of the Corvair," was on Time's cover
1961: Promoted to group vice president, overseeing GM's automotive divisions
1965: Named executive vice president
1967: Became GM president
1974: Retired from GM
March 1977: Became chairman of Checker Motors
May 1977: Died in plane crash at age 67
As the rare high-profile executive at General Motors, nationally famous after his face appeared on the cover of Time magazine in 1959, Ed Cole showed unsurpassed flair.
