WHEREAS, This year marks the one hundredth year of service provided
to the Sunnyside community by C. Speck Motors. Four generations of the
Speck family have worked to provide automobile service to the
community; and
WHEREAS, The Speck family came to Sunnyside in 1908. Clayton
Speck, an enterprising young business man, worked in the restaurant
business for several years before turning to the automobile industry.
He started the Sunnyside garage in 1911, and then the Speck-Rowland
Garage the following year. The garage sold Buick and GMC Trucks, and
eventually added a Chevrolet division. The dealership became C. Speck
Motors in 1920; and
WHEREAS, Even during the great depression Clayton Speck added a new
dealership facility. Though he was criticized at the time for that
decision, Speck was able to keep the shop running by manufacturing
parts for the military; and
WHEREAS, Clayton Speck is remembered as a man of great character
and generosity, contributing to orphanages and other community
projects; and
WHEREAS, Clayton's son James R. Speck left the University of
Washington in 1950 to run the dealership when Clayton became ill.
James continued to run the dealership until 1975. James continued his
father's tradition of helping the community by supporting activities
such as American Legion baseball, little league baseball, and the
school Patrol. He also served as President of Washington State Auto
Dealers Association in 1966; and
WHEREAS, In 1975, James C. Speck became the third generation to run
C. Speck Motors. He served on the General Motors Dealers Advisory
Board in 1985. He added a Nissan franchise to the dealership in 1985,
and added a new showroom; and
WHEREAS, In 1994, Kathryn Speck, James C. Speck's daughter, began
working for the dealership. She became the Dealer Principal in 1998.
She moved the dealership to a larger location, and it is now one of the
largest in the area;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate
thank and congratulate the Speck family and C. Speck Motors for
providing one hundred years of service to the Sunnyside area; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be
immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the
Speck family.