Outside of this milestone, the story of Helene Rother is one of tenacity. Rother was born in Germany, and she fled to the United States with her daughter in 1941.
According to the Automotive Hall of Fame, Charlie Wiggins was an African-American race car driver and engineer who helped break barriers in the industry. Wiggins challenged segregation in racing and found success in the Colored Speedway Association. He was a frequent winner from 1924 to 1936.
As an engineer, Wiggins owned and operated a repair shop in Indianapolis. He constructed his own racing vehicles and contributed to the engineering of the 1934 Indianapolis 500-winning car.
Wiggins supported and encouraged young Black drivers to compete and was well-respected among the racing community. He was an inspiring figure during a time when prejudice was rampant.
Charlie Richard (C.R.) Patterson and Frederick Douglass Patterson
This father and son duo has been inducted into the Hall of Fame for founding the world's first Black-owned automotive company.
Charlie Richard Patterson was born into slavery but went on to become wealthy and influential. He was a strong supporter of education and encouraged his children to learn as much as they could. He founded a carriage company in 1873 in Greenfield, OH. The company would later be known as C.R. Patterson & Sons and sell automobiles.
Patterson's son, Frederick Douglass Patterson, was named after the famed abolitionist. His Automotive Hall of Fame profile emphasizes how he spent his life breaking down boundaries. He was Ohio State University's first Black football player. Five years after his father's death, Frederick Douglass Patterson would release the Patterson-Greenfield automobile in 1915.
Tom Gallagher is highly regarded for his leadership of the Genuine Parts Company which owns NAPA Auto Parts. His advocacy for drivers, store employees, and the aftermarket industry helped him garner a lasting positive reputation.
These inductees spent their lives overcoming barriers and making the automotive space more welcoming to everyone. Because of these contributions to the industry and the world, they earned their places in the Automotive Hall of Fame.