Future of Speedway In Doubt Following Wilbur Shaw's Death

Topics:  Wilbur Shaw, Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Rome News-Tribune
1 November 1954

INDIANAPOLIS (AP)—The plane crash death Saturday of automobile racing immoral Wilbur Shaw left the future of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in doubt today.

"I've been so broken up about it. I don't know what we'll do," said Anton J. (Tony) Hulman, speedway owner.

Shaw, three-time winner of the 500-mile Memorial Day race in his 20 years of professional racing and president and manager of the speedway since World War II, was killed with two associates when their plane crashed in a cornfield near Decatur, Ind., during a light snowfall.

The other victims were Ernest R. Roose, 41, official artist for the speedway, and Ray Grimes, 40, of Greenfield, Ind., pilot of the plane.

Surviving are the widow and a 9-year old son, Warren Wilbur Jr.

The funeral will be tomorrow at Vernon, Ind.