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In 1946 Colbert was made president of Dodge, the biggest division in Chrysler Corp. One of the first things he did was to expand. In two years he boosted output to an average of 2,800 cars and trucks a day (v. 1,700 prewar), and proved to the satisfaction of K. T. Keller that he had learned his lessons well.
Exeunt the Brass. Now he has to start passing the lessons on to a new team. Next month the retirements in the top brass will begin. First to go will be Vice Chairman of the Board Fred M. Zeder and Director of Engineering Owen R. Skelton. These two, with Carl Breer (already retired), have designed every Chrysler auto ever made. Next will be Plymouth's President Dan S. Eddins, Chrysler Division Boss David Wallace and Dodge's Works Manager Fred J. Lamborn—all longtime Chrysler hands. With them will go Colbert's right arm—General Manager Herman L. Weckler. In two years, both B. E. Hutchinson, chairman of the Finance Committee, and Treasurer Horace A. Davies will start drawing pensions. Says Colbert: "Don't worry. We'll have plenty of able replacements." Among them:
ROBERT KELLER, 38, square-shouldered, stocky son of K.T., who has been named general manager of Chrysler's new tank plant in Delaware. Before putting on a white collar, Bob Keller put in four years on the bench and became, according to his father, "a damned fine mechanic." He was wartime works manager of Chrysler's Detroit tank arsenal, moved into the corporation's nonautomotive divisions-at war's end, became president of the Marine and Industrial Engine Division in 1948.
WILLIAM C. NEWBERG, 40, husky, dark-haired vice president of Dodge, who is already being tutored for the division presidency. A University of Washington engineering graduate (1933), Bill Newberg wrote a thesis on road-testing autos that landed him a job with Chrysler, worked with Colbert in Chicago during the war, and went on with him to Dodge.
JOHN EDWARD BRENNAN, 38, tall, thin University of Wisconsin graduate (1934), who is reportedly slated for a big Chrysler defense job. Brennan took his M.A. at Chrysler's own Engineering Institute, worked on the Bofors 40-mm. gun, which Chrysler made during the war, is now Dodge resident engineer.
GEORGE W. TROOST, 48, vice president and comptroller, who is most likely to become treasurer of the corporation when Hutchinson retires. From the University of Michigan (1924), Troost went to accountants Ernst & Ernst, to Chrysler 14 years ago.
On the Shelf. President Colbert has more than staff problems to worry about. In case of all-out war, auto output would stop and competition would be on the shelf. But now Colbert must mobilize on two fronts: while he is forming and arming new work platoons for war, he must maintain an experienced cadre at home to keep Chrysler's place in the civilian market. Recently, this position has slipped. Between 1946 and 1949, G.M.'s percentage of the auto market rose from 37.8% to 42.9%; Chrysler's, on the other hand, shrank from 25.7% to 21.4%. And last year, because of its three-month strike, Chrysler's sales dropped behind Ford for the first time since 1936. (Last week Chrysler was back in second place again, with a daily output of 6,600 units, v. G.M.'s 14,300 and Ford's 6,550.)