Veteran automotive journalist and good friend of AutoSpies.com Frank Washington underwent six hours of reconstructive surgery on his face on Friday after being mugged during an early-morning walk from his westside Detroit home, his brother, James Washington, publisher of the Dallas Weekly, told Journal-isms on Saturday.
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| Frank Washington |
"He was not just mugged, he was severely mugged," James Washington said, "and every bone in his face was crushed."
Washington, 60, is managing partner of Aboutthatcar.com, an automotive information Web site, and a freelance writer. He has covered the automotive industry since 1988, is a former Detroit bureau chief for Newsweek magazine, and is the founding chairman of the Automotive Task Force of the Detroit chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists, created in 2005 to promote diversity in automotive communications. "Rather than complain about the lack of diversity within our ranks, we've decided to do something about it," Washington said then.
Fellow automotive journalist Greg Morrison, CEO of Bumper2Bumper TV, told Journal-isms on Saturday that their colleagues were attempting to create a trust fund in Washington's behalf, since Washington is a freelancer without the health care benefits that would otherwise be available. Some in the automobile industry had asked how they could help.
"You're spending six, seven, eight hours a day in a car with someone, you get to know them real well," he said, speaking of those in the automobile industry who took test drives with Washington. "This is shocking and saddening. It's enraging. He is the most low-key brother you ever want to meet. And he got mugged like this."
The Spies wish our buddy Frank a speedy recovery and we ask our audience to participate in the charity auction (Being run by famous spy photog Brenda Priddy that will help out raising funds for his substantial medical bills).
The first 5 auctions include:
A series of 5 DODGE CHALLENGER PROTOTYPE PISTOL GRIP SHIFTERS from the Dodge Design Studio!
Two ORIGINAL framed mid-engine CORVETTE sketches from the CORVETTE DESIGN STUDIO, circa 1973.
RARE BMW 'sculpture' / model (circa 1981) donated by Jim Dunne.
A $1200 MICHELIN gift certificate.
And a 5-hour BOB BONDURANT High Performance driving class!
**All proceeds go directly to the Frank Washington Fund at Charter One Bank in Michigan.
And please everyone, keep Frank in your prayers!
Send your good wishes below in our blog and bid here!
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZbrendapriddycharityauctions
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