Biography William Clupper
Biography
President of NCRS in 1986 - 1989
Bill was born on July 28, 1945 in the small community of Brookfield, Ohio. While growing up Bill attended Brookfield High School. During high school Bill played in the band and excelled on the football team.
Bill was involved with several youth groups including the Boy Scouts of America, where he earned an “Order of the Arrow” award and sash.
Bill was accepted into the prestigious General Motors Institute (GMI) and graduated in 1968 with a bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering. He continued as a supporting alumni and is a Kettering University Heritage Circle member.
After GMI graduation, he returned to the area and began his career at the Packard Electric in Warren, Ohio. At the time, Packard Electric was a division of General Motors. He retired as Superintendent of Component Engineering.
Bill worked in many areas of the wiring harness and cable manufacturing at the Packard Electric plant, including design and quality control. While working with one of his teams, he helped design a new type of electrical connector with a cam lock, which received a U.S. Patent number 5,810,612 in September 1998.
When not traveling for Packard Electric, Bill was involved with racing his factory fuel injected 1965 Corvette. He raced at both Dragway 42 and Quaker City dragstrips. And won multiple races.
Bill also participated in judging and showing his other Corvettes at NCRS events and won over 30 car awards. Bill has owned multiple Corvettes; 1962, 1963, 1965, 1972 and a 1989.
He was instrument in locating and identifying the 1962 Gulf Oil Racer Corvette.
Also, while working and after his retirement, Bill was heavily involved with the National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS). He was an early NCRS member, number 618.
Bill attended and participated in hundreds of NCRS Chapter, Regional and National Conventions. He earned a 400 Master Judge award, which is the highest level in NCRS Judging.
Bill was elected as a NCRS Director in 1981. He was appointed to the prestigious position of National Judging Chairman in 1984. During his tenure as Judging Chairman, Bill was instrumental in development of new Judging procedures and Judging Reference Manuals. Many of his procedures are in use today. In 1995 he received the NCRS Member of the Year award.
He was elected President of NCRS in 1986 and served for three years. During his tenure as President, in 1988 he was instrumental for bringing the National Corvette Museum NCM) concept to fruition along with other early NCM notables; Ray Battaglini, John Brookmeyer, Terry McManmon and Keith Kibbe. Bill is NCM founding member number 28.
Bill went on to support the NCM’s development by writing the by-laws and the IRS 501c3 filing. Bill was his own Corvette restorer. He was mechanically adapt and built/rebuilt his own engines, transmissions, suspensions and other mechanical components. Including doing his own painting and refinishing. He authored multiple “how to” articles for the NCRS Restorer magazine as well as many Judging Chairman and President messages.
Join Year: 1975
Deceased Date: 01-15-2021
Achieved Flight Judging Car Award(s):
1965 Corvette: Flight Judging Award (Top Flight) at CLEVELAND OH (Chapter) in 1986
1963 Corvette: Flight Judging Award (Third Flight) at CLEVELAND OH (Chapter) in 1988
1965 Corvette: Performance Verification Award at LANCASTER PA in 1988
1972 Corvette: Flight Judging Award (Second Flight) at RESTON VA (Chapter) in 1990
1972 Corvette: Flight Judging Award (Second Flight) at RICHFIELD OH (Chapter) in 1990
1972 Corvette: Flight Judging Award (Top Flight) at WILLIAMSBURG VA (National) in 1990
1972 Corvette: Performance Verification Award at OAKVILLE ON in 1991
1972 Corvette: Bowtie/Star Award at SEVEN SPRINGS PA in 1994
1972 Corvette: Flight Judging Award (Top Flight) at MIDDLEBURG HTS OH (Chapter) in 1995
1962 Corvette: Flight Judging Award (Third Flight) at MANSFIELD OH (Chapter) in 1997
1962 Corvette: Founders Award at COLLINSVILLE in 1998
1962 Corvette: Flight Judging Award (Top Flight) at BAKERSTOWN PA (Chapter) in 1999
1965 Corvette: Flight Judging Award (Top Flight) at Asheville NC (Regional) in 2002
1989 Corvette: Flight Judging Award (Top Flight) at Windsor ON Canada (National) in 2004
1989 Corvette: Flight Judging Award (Top Flight) at Havre de Grace MD (Chapter) in 2004
1989 Corvette: Performance Verification Award at Bowling Green KY in 2005
1989 Corvette: Flight Judging Award (Top Flight) at San Antonio TX (National) in 2006
1989 Corvette: Flight Judging Award (Top Flight) at Auburn IN (Regional) in 2006
1989 Corvette: McLellan Award at San Antonio TX in 2006
1989 Corvette: 5 Star Crossed Flags Award at Marlborough MA in 2007
1989 Corvette: 5 Star Bowtie Award at Saint Charles MO in 2008
Achieved Judging Award(s):
Level 400 Master Judge, Red Hat
Achieved Special Award(s):
Member Of Year (1995)
Lifetime Achievement (2011)
Flight Judging Points: 400