em>The phrase “Only in Chestertown” comes to mind when trying to describe a friendship between a crusty old timer and a young college student based on a particular brand of automobile. What started as a chance encounter at a local bar turned into a special bond between Leo Hicks and Frank Rhodes; one considered to be the best Chrysler mechanic in the region, the other the great grandson of the car company’s founder. As a testament of Frank’s fondness and respect for Leo, he commissioned his own video biography a few years before Leo’s death in 1989.
This is a story about a good friend of mine, Walter Leo Hicks, known as Leo (1913-1989). His old repair shop on Cannon Street was an eyesore for some and a treasure trove of collectable auto parts for others.
At the center of this shop was Leo who could repair anything. I remember him rebuilding a straight eight on a 1950 Chrysler Town and Country. He was known for welding a leak in your gas tank with gas in it! Sounds crazy, but he did it without an explosion.
His wife Libby was the manager of the shop and Nubby was the assistant. There were piles and piles of stuff in the work area and outside. All of the old cars and trucks in the yard were full of older parts: carburetors, fuel pumps, axles, distributors, rims, and gauges. You named it, he had it.
If you asked Leo for an old part he would say “I HOPE SO.” He would think for a bit and would know where to find it.
Leo would drive all around Chestertown in his rusty old Dodge pickup. The dashboard, passenger side and floor were completely filled to the brim with junk. He would wave to everyone.
While attending Washington College in 1978, I went to a fraternity gathering at Newts Bar on High Street. An older gentleman wearing glasses and well-worn green overalls sat beside me at the bar; his greasy hands holding (of course) a PBR (Pabst Blue Ribbon). He would always crush that empty can with his bare hands when it was empty.
We got to talking and the subject quickly went to Walter P. Chrysler. I had never met this man before and he kept bringing up the subject of my great-grandfather WPC. Leo would say that he was one of the greatest and the most well respected engineers of motive power the world has ever seen.
I heard stories for well over two hours and when leaving showed Leo my Dodge Charger. Leo lit up and I had to tell him about my connection with WPC. You would have thought the world had rolled over. We went back inside and that is where the friendship began.
I do want to share an auto story. It is said that years ago the mayor of Chestertown, who had previously sold Fords, came to Leo one day and said “Leo, you need to clean all of this junk off your yard.” Leo apparently said in response, “The Fords are already gone!”
Leo passed away in early January, 1989. It was a packed house at Willis Wells Funeral Home on High Street and someone had placed a blue banner on his casket with the words “The Chrysler Man.”
I had this video made of Leo in 1985 with the hope of continuing his legacy. To all of the mechanics, auto part dealers, farmers, and friends, this video will hopefully bring back memories of the man we had knew as Leo. I would also like to thank Tyler Campbell for his help in organizing this story.
By Frank Rhodes with Photography by Tyler Campbell
Editor’s note: This was originally published in the Spy on September 18, 2012
Al Townshend,DVM says
Leo Hicks was a great man and a living legend in Chestertown. I too have fond memories of Leo and subsequently became a Chrysler Corp fan and have, for the better part of my life, owned a Chrysler product.
Leo was what I would term one of the “Late and Great Wavers”. Leo always gave everyone a high, off the steering wheel wave as if he had known you all his life and was glad to see you. He helped make Chestertown the hospitable community, as he say, :that is known all over the world”.
Great story Frank and may there be many more like this one, about some of the legends of Chestertown.
Bill Anderson says
Mr. Leo Hicks — a blast from the past, indeed. Thank you, Frank Rhodes. While Leo had admiration for Chrysler, he was also apparently partial to Hudson automobiles, and had quite a few of them on his lot. Those of us who had opportunity to know Leo will never forget him.
Larry Slagle says
Reading this article and watching the video brings back special memories of growing up in Chestertown. Like the article says, “everyone” in town knew Leo. And like everyone else in town who was alive at that time, each one of us has memories. I had a connection to Leo that was closer then most. You see, the “Nubby” that is referred to in the article is my uncle, Howard Taylor, my mother’s brother. This connection to Leo led to countless trips to Leo’s garage, usually on Saturday mornings. You see, Pop frequently had some project going that required parts / expertise of Nubby and Leo. For a little boy growing up, there could be no better music to the ears then to have Pop say, “We need to stop around to Leo’s.” That meant a trip into the wondrous land that was “Leo’s Garage.”
Clear up until his passing, he was always “Uncle Nubby.” In the video, at about 3:30, that’s him standing on Leo’s left. A life-long bachelor, Uncle Nubby had a special spot in his heart for children, especially nieces and nehews. Leo also had a huge heart and special spot for children. As a kid, you could always count on Leo offering you a soda. I would look at Pop with a nervous glance, hoping against hope that he would say yes. Pop would usually nod his head “yes.” Leo would dig in his pocket for a quarter to drop in the old Coca-Cola machine. He would open the vending door and hold it. Then it was up to me to pull the bottle out and open it with the bottle opener on the machine. Oh, what a special moment that was! The first sip of Coke from one of the old, green, heavy coke bottles. The taste of modern Coca-Cola is different now. Ever since Coca-Cola messed with the formula, bring out “New Coke”, then bringing the old formula back. It has never quite been the same. The spot on Cannon Street where Leo’s was located is still there. Theres nothing to see now except an empty lot. There has been talk of building condos there, but it hasn’t happened yet. It all serves as a reminder. The passage of time is relentless and change is inevitable. But, memories of Leo, Uncle Nubby and the taste of Coca-Cola live on forever.
Larry Slagle says
Make that 2:52 into the video, to see Uncle Nubby!!!
Thomas E. Taylor says
Thank you Frank. I only knew him well enough to say “hello” when we met. But I, and I expect others who may have known him much better realize/d the talent and dedication he exhibited. He did it, and he did it his way. He and Martin Wagner rate at the top of my list of people worth knowing. Too many aquaintenaces of both have passed. Would they rate high on your list?? To borrow one of Leo’s most used phrases, “Oh, I hope so”.
Michael V Johnson says
Thanks Frank. As Leo would say of the slant six I will say of him “they just don’t make them like that any more” What an iconic character.
Glenn May says
Great stuff. Where on Cannon was his shop? I think there should be some more articles like this on some more Chestertown characters.
Bill Anderson says
The late Mayor of Chestertown, Phil Wilmer visited Leo’s garage one day to discuss neighorhood concerns about all the “junk” on the premises. Phil Wilmer was als the owner of the Eliason Ford dealership on Cross St., about where the town offices are today. When the mayor brought up the “junk” situation, Leo promptly pointed out that he kept no junk there — “There’s not a Ford on the property!”
Dan Saunders says
Thanks Frank for making a living tribute to this iconic man. When Leo walked into the tavern everybody would yell Hileo! and he would reply in that inimitable voice, Hileo! Norm on Cheers was always an Homage in my mind to Leo. Upon his departure, Brian or Harry would say, “see you Leo” and he would, of course, reply “I hope so.”
He was a natural born mechanic; he did’t need diagnostic equipment, he could feel the pulse of an engine. Without a diagram he could deduce the firing sequence of an engine using trial and error in about three minutes. He did indeed love Chrysler products, but he was quite a famous race car driver of Hudsons in the 30’s and early 40’s.
He and Nubby fussed at each other constantly, but it was clear they respected and cared for each other. Once in a while Leo would get “madder than a chicken in the rain,” but it wouldn’t last long. Soon he would be heading out in his pickup, giving every oncoming driver the Leo Hicks two finger wave.
He was an amazing, kind, and generous man. If you were fortunate enough to know him, you will never forget him. Seeing this video made my day.