67 checkmate

[sschifer]

This is a picture of Mike Downard (Co-founder of checkmate Bill Downards son) in Hamilton Ohio 1967.

 

[Big Red]

Cool pic but never herd of Mike Downard. I thought Bill Combs started Checkmate.

 

[SCT]

Here is another pix of Mike and "Mother's Worry".

 

[Big Red]

Found it myself



"Wild Bill" Combs is always credited...... yet the company was founded and conceived by he and his equal partner.... the late Bill Downard...who was both a creative and stabilizing influence during the company's formative years.

 

[sschifer]

Bill Combs did but somehow Bill Downard was in the mix to. Mike ended up losing an arm in a boat accident during a race in the late 70's. Mike is actually a pretty good friend. Hey SCT thats cool you have a pic of Mike in Mothers worry, he always named his boats that. I happened to see the vids and pics of your boat, one hell of machine. Its cool to see the vids because i seen it sitting at kunkels and thought that had to be able to haul balls and it does. Nice

 

[Chris]

Thanks for posting that picture - it's very cool.

Would you mind if I uploaded that pic to our photo-gallery?

Anyone I've ever spoken to about the "good-old-days" at Checkmate, always speaks very highly of Bill Downard.

-Chris

 

[sschifer]

Sure Chris...Bill Downard died in late 86. I currently work at the Bucyrus City Fire Dept the older guys told me up until he died he would donate a new engine every year to put on the rescue boat. The dept. probably had the fastest rescue boat in the state. I speak with Bills son quit often and I know he has bunches of old checkmate photos. I will try and round some up and post them.

 

[yellowfiero88]

Very cool pic! Hamilton is right about in my back yard, about 10 minutes from me.

 

[Jetmate]

Nice old Mate pic. Can't wait to see what others you round up.

 

[Chris]

Sure Chris...Bill Downard died in late 86. I currently work at the Bucyrus City Fire Dept the older guys told me up until he died he would donate a new engine every year to put on the rescue boat. The dept. probably had the fastest rescue boat in the state. I speak with Bills son quit often and I know he has bunches of old checkmate photos. I will try and round some up and post them.

Well if you get some scanned, drop me a PM and we'll work something out. Perhaps you can send me some of the scans and I'll rework them and clean them up a bit in PhotoShop.

I was at the Toronto Boat Show a week or so ago, and Bill's name came up when I was exchanging war stories with some of the guys working the booths.

-Chris

 

[Chris]

Here's a cleaned up version that I uploaded to the gallery.

It came out pretty good.

The name on the side is "Mother's Worry".

-Chris

 

[audioguy]

This is a picture of Mike Downard (Co-founder of checkmate Bill Downards son) in Hamilton Ohio 1967.

That looks like my 131.