Tom Medley (20 March 1920 ^[1] - 2 March 2014 ^[2]) was an American hot rodder and cartoonist, best known as creator of Stroker McGurk.

History

Medley was born in Lebanon, Oregon, 20 March 1920. ^[3] He became interested in auto racing at a young age, and would hitchhike up to 65 mi (105 km) to attend dirt track events. ^[4]

He served in the U.S. Army's 78th Infantry Division during World War II. ^[3] After the war ended, he enrolled at California's Art Center School, in Pasadena, California. ^[3] It was there, like many returning GIs, he became interested in hot rodding. ^[4]

Medley provided photographic coverage of the land speed racers at Bonneville Speed Weeks, and of the Indianapolis 500, from 1950 to 1964. ^[3] He began displaying his cartoon creations at a local rod shop, Blair's Speed Shop, ^[3] which helped get him a job at Hot Rod (when it was still called Honk!) with just its second issue, in February 1948. ^[5] Medley moved from humor editor to advertising in 1955, and stayed with Petersen Publishing until 1985. ^[6]

In December 1965, Medley was named publisher of Rod & Custom, ^[7] which he transformed from a general interest automotive and drag racing magazine (including coverage of karts) to a specialist custom car title. He ran contrary to the trend toward muscle cars and drag racing, and succeeded. ^[6] Taking that position led to a brief revival of the Stroker McGurk cartoons in the magazine. ^[3]

Stroker McGurk

Medley's famed creation, Stroker McGurk, debuted in the third issue of Hot Rod ^[4] (when it was still called Honk!), and continued in the magazine until 1955. He would reappear briefly in 1964 and 1965, ^[8] and occasionally in Rod & Custom in the 1980s.

Stroker (as he was always known) drove a trademark 1929 Ford roadster ^[9] in most of his appearances, but he also innovated a number of things later copied by real-life racers, including multiple-engine dragsters, traction bars, and parachutes. ^[7]

Medley would create an equivalent character, Flat Out Snodgrass, for Cycle. ^[3]

Rodding

After discussions with Tex Smith, Medley helped organize the first Street Rod Nationals in Peoria, Illinois, in summer 1970. ^[5]

Medley had a favorite 1940 Ford 5-window, which was destroyed in 2011 in a garage fire; family and friends raised US$30,000 to have the car restored, presenting it to him 10 months later. ^[7]

He was a long-time friend of customizer Dick "Magoo" Megugorac. ^[9]

Personal life

Medley had one son, Gary. ^[7]

He died in Los Angeles on 2 March 2014, after a brief illness, at 93. ^[10]

Notes

External links

• Hot Rod online (obit)
• Facebook (memorial)
• Pressreader.com