A Hoosier's Journey
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“At age 17, I went home from work and told my mother that I had received an appointment to study engineering at GMI. She said, “I didn’t know you wanted to be an engineer.” I said, “I do today!” I didn’t even know where GMI was located.”
On October 1, 1951, author Donald J. Almquist moved to Flint, Michigan to begin his education at the General Motors Institute. Little did he know this was the beginning of a long career that spanned more than forty-three years. In A Hoosier’s Journey, Almquist chronicles his story. In this memoir, he starts with life on a small farm in Indiana while giving background on his family. It continues through his education as a co-op student working at Delco-Remy in Anderson, Indiana, and Delco Electronics in Kokomo, Indiana. Almquist offers narratives of his personal life and career with tales from throughout the world. In addition, he shares his beliefs on management and leadership while reflecting on the last ninety years. A Hoosier’s Journey gives a peek into Almquist’s journey, and his long, productive life surrounded by loving family and friends.
I have had a long, productive life. I had a wonderful wife, two great children, and a career that took me all over the world. I was always telling a story about something I had done and who I did it with. Everyone kept telling me I should write my memoir. I thought about it but never got around to doing it.
Approaching ninety, I began to write about my career and where my jobs had taken me. I got so I enjoyed it. I would type out my memories on my cellphone with a stylus and my daughter would type it up. Almost 90,000 words later I have a collection of my thoughts, as I remembered them, about my upbringing, education and stumbling on a career that surpassed many years, while also being a husband and father. I have tried to include a number of stories of interesting people who I’ve shared a friendship with; some just memories of people who I’ve met. I’ve also included my thoughts on successful management skills, suggestions on how to change a company’s culture along my beliefs on a purposeful life. I dug up photos to help you understand my journey. I hope, perhaps it’s something my grandchildren and great-grandchildren will read to better know who their grandfather was. I hope you might enjoy it.
Donald J. Almquist, a retired GM executive, served as president and CEO of Delco Electronics. He was also EVP of Hughes Electronics. He worked for GM more than forty-three years in various divisions and capacities. Almquist served on various boards including Trinity Consulting, Aladdin Industries, and Business Modernization and Technology Corp for the state of Indiana. He is a widower living in Georgia with his dog, Peaches.
A Hoosier’s Journey
By Donald J. Almquist
Published 2024 by Archway Publishing
Sold through Amazon, Barnes & Nobles or anywhere books are sold.
ISBN: 9781665-757423
Hardcover: $25.99
Simon & Schuster, a company with nearly 90 years of publishing experience, teamed up with Author Solutions, to create Archway Publishing. This self-publishing extension of Simon & Schuster helps writers make informed decisions such as editing, design and layout of their work.
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About the Book
At age 17, I went home from work and told my mother that I had received an appointment to study engineering at GMI. She said, “I didn’t know you wanted to be an engineer.” I said, “I do today!” I didn’t even know where GMI was located. On October 1, 1951, I entered Flint, Michigan to start my education with General Motors Institute.
When Dad died, Mother was not employed. She said we were all going to stay together. The state would separate us if we couldn’t survive without Dad. I can still see her taking a knife and putting a slit in the top of that baking powder can, and we all contributed to it. We all put whatever we could earn in that can.
During Mother’s last year, I would go over to see her, and she always wanted me to take something home. When I was checking her food supply, I found the baking powder can. I told her I would like to have it. She said there were a number of times she would look into it and see a dime, which meant she would have to be creative for supper. We never went hungry. She was one of my two most admired ladies. I married the other one.
In March 1990, I flew into Moscow. All of the flights from out of the country came into Moscow in those days. After we landed, the intercom came on and asked for me. I remember this scared me. I wondered what was wrong. When I arrived in Tolyatti, two of my engineers met me and said, “Lets take a walk.” I thought this was strange since it was raining. They said you couldn’t talk in the rooms; they were bugged. They told about a session where they were planning the next phase of their work. The next morning the Russian engineers acted as if they had been in the meeting.
Don Almquist has traveled the world doing business for GM. In this memoir starts with life on a small farm in Indiana, continues through his education and career at both Delco Remy and Delco Electronics Corporation. He talks of his personal life and career with stories from all over the world. He shares his beliefs on management and leadership and reflects on the last 90 years.
About the Author
Donald J. Almquist is a retired GM executive who served as President and CEO of Delco Electronics. He was also EVP of GM Hughes Electronics. He worked for GM over 43 years in various divisions and capacities. He served on various boards including: Indiana Corporation for Science Technology Corporation, Trinity Consulting, Aladdin Industries and Business Modernization and Technology Corp for the state of Indiana. He has received a number of honorary doctorates and state and national recognitions. He is a widower living in Georgia with his dog Peaches.