Former GM CEO Roger Smith dead at 82.

[bigworld]

Source: Jalopnik.com

DETROIT - Roger B. Smith, who led General Motors in the 1980s through a period of significant change, passed away here November 29 after a brief illness. He was 82.

Smith was appointed chairman and CEO on January 1, 1981, and led the world's largest automaker until his retirement on July 31, 1990.

Smith directed GM during a revolutionary period in the auto industry, a time of expanding global business, tough new environmental and safety standards, and increased competition from import brands.

During Smith's tenure as chairman and CEO, GM introduced its first front-wheel-drive midsize cars, formed NUMMI, a joint venture with Toyota to manufacture cars in California, created Saturn, and acquired Electronic Data Systems and Hughes Aircraft Corp.

Read more: http://jalopnik.com/cars/industry-news/roger-b-smith-former-gm-chairman-and-ceo-dies-at-82-328460.php

[TwilightGardener]

1. I'm guessing Mike Moore won't be invited to that funeral.

[DS1]

3. Now filming his sequel, simply called "Me"

[quispquake]

4. LOL!!!

Hahahahaha...

[Cooley Hurd]

22. Hahahahaha!

:rofl:

[aquart]

2. Did he take it with him?

[YOY]

17. No, but his family will.

n.t.

[Akoto]

5. Former GM Chairman, CEO Roger Smith dies

Source: Associated Press

DETROIT (AP) -- Roger B. Smith, who led General Motors Corp. in the 1980s and was the subject of Michael Moore's searing documentary "Roger and Me," has died, the automaker said Friday. He was 82.

Smith died Thursday in the Detroit area after an unspecified brief illness, GM said.

He was appointed chairman and chief executive on Jan. 1, 1981, and led the world's largest automaker until his retirement on July 31, 1990.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OBIT_SMITH?SITE=TXBEA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Arugula Latte]

6. I get a kick out of the fact that Michael Moore is mentioned in the first line of the obit.

Smith will forever be linked to Moore ... and that is fitting. I like it when arrogant, out-of-touch CEOs get a comeuppance.

[Old Smokey]

8. Me Too !!

Moore will get a free plug in every smith obit printed.

[shain from kane]

7. To be buried in a lemon grove.

[Lance_Boyle]

9. Hope they outsource the funeral to Mexico.

So Mr. Hyde went first, then Roger. Who's #3 this time? Satan himself?

[Wickerman]

10. nah, Cheney will be around a bit longer, I fear. n/t

[rurallib]

11. I'll put a fiver on Oral Roberts.

[murielm99]

23. Well, Evel Kenievel died. n/t

[closeupready]

12. I was acquainted with his daughter ages ago.

n/t

[Auggie]

13. He was a bean counter that ruined General Motors -- good riddance.

[HughBeaumont]

14. You know, just to remind you patriotic viewers that Michael Moore is STILL a Commie Pinko!

Way to go MSM!

The headline on Yahoo was not about Roger Smith, ex-CEO, but Roger Smith, subject of "Roger and Me".

I mean, why work in a painfully obvious attempt at a Michael Moore jab in a guy's obituary? Not praising Smith by any means; he was a callous corporocrat just like the rest of them, but that was classless.

[Ian David]

15. Is there NOTHING that man won't do to avoid speaking to Michael Moore!?

"I'm sorry, Mister Moore, but the chairman is dead."



"Oh, come on already. He's used THAT excuse before. Twice."

[Ian David]

16. I hear he's buying his coffin and all his funeral arrangements from Mexico. n/t

[Turbineguy]

18. His coffin

is in the shape of a burrito.

[Blue_Tires]

19. the city of flint and the current state of gm are monuments to his 'works'

[superconnected]

20. No, not the guy who moved all the factories to Mexico and paid them so much

the mexicans moved here for jobs. No, NOT HIM!!!

RIP greedy bastard.

[Blue_Tires]

21. oh yeah, his NUMMI brainchild is in the news as well

http://www.leftlanenews.com/lawsuit-claims-gm-toyota-allowed-for-defects-at-california-plant.html#more-6081


Earlier this month, an employee at a California plant run jointly by General Motors and Toyota — where the Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix are produced — claimed that company officials allowed for defects to go unchecked, including faulty seat belts and braking. The allegations were brought to light by the employee — Katy Cameron, a certified auditor who has worked for 23 years at New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. — who recently filed a law suit against New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., Toyota and General Motors. While it remains unclear if the allegations are true, a new lawsuit filed against Toyota could give the claims more credence.

Gurinder Singh filed a lawsuit against Toyota that claims a faulty seatbelt in the family's Corolla caused the death of his father. Singh claims the seatbelt failed to unlatched after a crash that caused the vehicles to catch fire — trapping his father inside, where he burned to death.

Singh is suing for $5 million.

Toyota's defense attorney said that the crash, while tragic, was not the company's fault. "This is a case about responsibility for your actions," Patrick Becherer told jurors. "The evidence will show that this tragic death was unnecessary, and the crash was caused by the driver's misjudgment."