Homer LaGassey, legendary CCS teacher and designer at GM, Chrysler, and Ford, worked for GM in the Motorama days (early to mid 1950′s). Homer, also master of the off-the-cuff quip, claims Harley didn’t fire him over this incident although it is hard to believe. Apparently Homer summoned an elevator. When the doors opened, there was Mister Earl with a shopping bag in each arm heading for the executive garage. Homer, possibly a bit intimidated over riding with Mr. Earl blurted out, “Taking home your pay Mr. Earl?” I’m sure a chilly silence followed. If I am able get additional details on the story, I’ll post them (SEE COMMENTS).
According to Bill Porter, Homer, who was assistant in Pontiac at the time, says he quit because of round-the-clock overtime. Claimed his kids cried when he did come home. “Who’s that strange man, mommy?”
These images of his artwork were in my files. I will be happy to give credit if notified of the source. I successfully resisted the urge to caption them.
Dear Gary, Yes, indeed those are my Dad’s drawings. What made you decide to post them? Actually, I have seen of those recently ( the originals among many others ). The story about Harley Earl is true. For many years after my Dad came home from teaching at CCS, he would call me down from upstairs, to review his students’ work. We would critique’ them, so I really learned a lot about designing. I really became quite good at studying them, and always the best students went forward into wonderful careers. I think it is great that you are doing this, he would be so proud! Thank you.
Suzanne LaGassey
Royal Oak, MI
In the early ’50s I was an apprentice sculptor at G.M. Styling in Bill Lange’s “Experimental Design” studio in plant 8. I had the opportunity to ocassionally work overtime in the Truck Studio. Lou Steirs was the likeable manager and Charley Jordan was his assistant. I also worked in the Cadillac studio when Ed Glowacki was the manager. Fortunately, I got the additional chance to assist in the Olds and Buick studio at nights. That’s where I saw Homer’s “Wildcat” in clay form for the first time. I met Homer when we literally ran into each other at a G.M. Styling picnic softball game. Later, we both worked at Ford Design Center at the same time. Bill Schmidt, formely from Chrysler Design, got a outside contract to do two advanced car designs on Chalmers Avenue in Detroit. Again I got to work both with Homer and Dick Teague.
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About the elevator story with Mr. Earl, Homer told me that story directly and the punch line as I recall it was “Just chashed your paycheck Mr. Earl?” Homer then said the group in the elevator went silent. “No Homer. Mrs. Earl wanted me to take these shirts to the laundry.”
I’ve talked with Homer recently and he sounded vigorous as he always did!
Thanks for jogging my fond memories and for your great beginnings!
Tom
I knew Homer first when I joined the Desoto studio in 1955. In 1956, Homer was manager of the Dodge studio. At gatherings, he would get requests to sing “Road to Mandalay” which he belted out with gusto. Homer is one of my favorite people from my design career. He was always ready to help new and aspiring designers. A few years ago I took a watercolor class from him in FL. He is a top-notch watercolor artist!
As I recall the Earl story back in the fifties, after asking Mr. Earl if he had cashed his paycheck, a long silence ensued, then Homer, trying to salvage the situation, asked “what DO you have in the sacks?” followed by another long, embarrasing silence. Take your pick!
Homer is my Godfather. My family lived just down the street and at age 10 began babysitting for Homer’s children. It’s been months since I’ve talked with him and haven’t been able to reach him at his home in Florida and I hope to contact him soon.
Homer always loved to sing. I remember as a child how he would make me laugh singing a song about Anne Boleyn in a very operatic voice, “With her head tucked underneath her arm, she walked the bloody tower…” (couldn’t do musical notes). He is also a good actor. He brought the house down during a play at the local theatre in which he starred. His terrific wife was also a cast member and was my Godmother.
Homer gave me drawing lessons at age 10, and much later on, he encouraged my attending The Society of Arts & Crafts, which is now CCS. He was also teaching there at the time. He was a huge influence in my growing up years, and I do love him.
Thanks Gary for this post, and I hope to find you, Suzanne.
—Barbara (Homer called me Bobbie)
Homer is my Grandfather, and all of those drawings I just saw recently in person, but it’s really cool to see them on here as well!
Hello Lauren, would you pass this message on to your Grandfather please. I was a student of your father back in 84-85, (Perhaps he might remember a Canson car interior I drew for his class that seemed to make an impression) and he was a great inspiration to me as an artist and as a teacher. After many years as an illustrator (I still do caricature work for MAD magazine) , I switched into teaching myself. The other day I was channeling your Grandfather’s musical teaching techniques to a grade nine Art Class that I teach.
I credit Homer with honing the passion in me for taking art to a responsive level, one that is honest and immediate and full of life.
In 1976, I wanted to look at different illustration techniques, so I took a night course at CCS with Homer. One result, the white Imperial design proposal in Dean’s Garage under: Bob Marcks, Designer at Studebaker, Ford and Chrysler (Part 1).
If you like it, Homer deserves a lot of the credit. If you don’t, it’s because I didn’t pay attention or I’m not as talented as Homer. Homer was one of the personalities that make the car design field interesting and great. I’m glad I had the chance to know him, if too briefly.
Dear Bob, very nice comment regarding my dad. Thank you!
Believe it or not, I too know Homer Lagassey. I am a Sales Consultant for GM currently, but at the time, I was selling Fords, and this older gentlemen, approached me with interest in buying a car. Long story short, I had sold Homer a vehicle, and became good friends with him. He invited me to his home, and showed me the fabulous New York Studio apt style home he owned, as well as many other unforgettable pics, drawings and sketches of numerous projects. I also recall seeing some photos from the war he was in as a pilot. Later on down the road, Homer brought me in an original sketch of the Mustang Mach I program, and personalized it for me. To this day, it still hangs on my wall in my office, and receives great recognition. Proud to know Homer. Tony
I am an unfortunate man to have not known Homer in his earlier days but am enlightened by the comments from his family, students, and friends. I currently cook for Homer in a northern Michigan retirement facility and enjoy interaction with him on a near dailyl basis. What a fortunate group of people who have had the opportunity to have known and studied under this gifted individual who is obviously dear to all of your hearts.
WOW…Homer LaGassey…..He will always remain one of the most dynamic, wonderful loving, caring talented! people I have ever met in my life!
I was an Industrial design student at the art school of the society of arts and crafts and the First class in 1968 to graduate with a BFA in design from the school.
I have a personal reflection about Homer..as when I was a young student…I was taking 19 plus credit hours and extremely stressed out…with the challenge and design study process at the school which had a really high percentage of students leaving etc. Well I think I got mono and had to take a few weeks off and I was really in jeopardy of losing my place at the school and falling so far behind..and I was about ready to just give up… Well I was at the hospital and recovering…and into my room walks Homer…and he sits down..and tells me with much care and concern…how he did not want me to give up…that he believed in me and that he wanted me to continue my commitment to the design study and he really thought I would make a great designer!. It was like someone lifted this heavy weight off my heart..and of course I got well and went back into the school…got tremendous support from my fellow design students..and went on to have a great career in the world of Design. (Because this great teacher took the time to visit one of his boys.)
I will always Love this great man for his caring heart and tremendous love he had for all his students. What a dynamic, wonderful human being! In class he was fun, unpredictable, challenging, DEMANDING we exceed the level of design excellence that he expected. He was so hard to please…when we had a review once..with our work on the wall ..he saw that I was exceptionally taken with this Canson sketch I had worked on for hours. As he was reviewing the work and critiquing…he casually took the work off the wall (let it drop to the floor) and stepped on the Canson piece …after he had drawn some squiggly devil ears and a goatee on the front end of my design masterpiece! !!!!!!!!! To my absolute horror…ho ho..Of course I learned to never fall in love with my work..and to strive to create the next masterpiece..and I think he did this to just about everybody in the class at one time or another…He was great! …and of course we all loved him for his energy and guidance. He pushed you in a great way to go beyond..and to really be the best you could be.
I remain in awe of this man..and admire him so much for touching my life in a manner that encourages me to this day….Homer LaGassey…I wish I could just tell you what you meant to me..and so many other wonderful people!
Much Love and Joy to you always wherever you are!
I was thrilled to come across the stories and memories of Homer Lagassey, who I feel is one of the most remarkable and briulliant men I have ever known. I had the privelage of taking classes with Homer while studying product design at CCS. Very few people have that ability to foster excellence, admiration and fear in his presence. It was clear that to impress Homer, you really had to be good. On this first day he would exclaim ” Excusitis is the disease of failures!”
I remember doing guache illustrations of the thanksgiving scenes for 14 hours and watch him take a black elmarko permanent marker and lay a vertical centerline on the wine bottles [ part of the required elements to illustrate]. The first time [ he did this] everyone moaned and gasped, and he looked up and exclaimed, “this is not art, its not going to hang in the louve! Its either right or its not.”
He did take one illustration that a student did which was not up to par, removed it from the wall and wiped his feet on it exclaiming that, “all this is good for is a doormat!!!” This was not cruel; it was the shocking bucket of cold water that snapped us all into working harder and doing more. I know that particular student really stepped up his work after that.
I consider myself lucky to have known Homer. His memory through these stories will live forever. I have become a professor of Design because of the path he took, and the impression he made on me. I consider it an honor to continue teaching in his style. When he “retired” from CCS in 1986/87, I had a sailing knife inscribed with the following, “I shall go out with the chariots to counsel and command, for that is the privilege of the old.”—Homer, Illiad IV. I spent about 120 dollars on this after unsuccessfully getting all the other students to chip in. I got about 5 guys to pitch, and then gave it to one of my best friends to give to him in class as I had a time conflict and could not do it. Most did not know what it was, and could only say John Caruso got this. Homer called me into the office. Keep in mind, this was not usually a good day when Homer called you in, however he wanted to personally thank me for the meaningful gift. That was the kind of man Homer is.
He taught us so much more than how to draw and paint, He taught us how to be professionals, with passion, conviction and integrity. I wish him well and his family the best. Please pass these comment on to Homer if possible. I had a dream last night I was speaking to him and took the time to find this contact portal.
Sincerely, John K Caruso Associate Professor Industrial Design, MIAD Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
Homer LaGassey. Homer is still an inspiration to me as a designer, painter and as a design director in the corporate world at Motorola. I attended CCS from 82-86. I’m sure he could still teach me now. The most important thing he taught me beyond the craft and the aesthetics was what it means to be a professional. His whistling, while he marked up the painting we slaved over, and his comments like “thats not your heart up on the wall, its a painting- and ome paintings “sing”, ( then he would sing hi notes and low notes- based upon composition, light source/shadow and hi-lights) and some paintings are better as floor mats.”
This is when he would take some ones painting off the wall and stomp on it a bit. He usually did this with so much gusto, it was amazing. I loved his class, and busted my but to improve, and i did. I thought so much of him me and the “product” boys in that class chipped in and bought him the sailing knife for his CCS retirement. I was always appreciative to see him and the rest of the CCS faculty visit the house end of school year parties in those days, and hear about his life lessons, as well as design teachings. Fond memories indeed.