Marshal George Prentice Southwood

My great-grandfather on my dad's side was named George Prentice Southwood. My whole family is proud of his service and sacrifice. We still remember him today. He was a Marshal for Monticello and Burnside, Kentucky. He was killed in the line of duty on September 30th, 1948 at the age of 43. He left behind a wife and four young children on the farm. The oldest was a boy named Lee Prentice Southwood. Lee Prentice Southwood was my grandfather. This small farm boy would go on to serve during WW2 and obtain a college degree through the GI Bill. After earning his chemistry degree, he would put all three of his sisters through college. One would become a school teacher and two would become doctors. He himself would become a dentist later in life. No question that his father would have been proud. George's police car is still in the family and has been passed down generation after generation. It is a 1939 Chevrolet Master 85 Sedan. It was manufactured at GM's Norwood plant right here in Cincinnati. Ironically, my grandmother's father worked at that plant his whole life and his hands probably touched this car before it rolled off the line. Both of their children (My grandparents on my dad's side) would marry after WW2. It was manufactured in July of 1939. It only has 40,000 original miles. It has a 216.5 cubic inch engine that has 85 horsepower. It has a 3-speed manual gearbox with vacuum assist. 1939 was the first year the vacuum assist was offered for only $10 more. The original curb weight was 2,780lbs-3010lbs depending on the options that were chosen. The original price was $628-$848 also depending on the options that were chosen. There were 190,622 Master 85s built in 1939. This is the 17,125th Master 85 to roll out of the Norwood plant. Its more expensive brother was the Master Deluxe which had more available options. 386,656 Master Deluxe's were built in 1939. My grandfather restored this car in the early 70's. It ran until the mid-80s. The project to restore her a second time started in 2009. I'm happy to say she is now on the road as of May 2013.

Wade Prentice Southwood
Proud great-grandson

September 24, 2014