Dopey Duncan's Testimonial Speech

Dopey Duncan (Luther Gehringer)
Birth: Jul. 30, 1920
Death: May 12, 1990
(69 years of age)

Dopey Duncan at his testimonial/roast
Days Inn, South Whitehall
Sunday, June 28th 1987

This further reminded me of other fond memories of my youngest days which led them back to those of Luther Gehringer (aka Dopey Duncan).

Nearly every Saturday morning when I was about 8 or 10 years old I used to sit alongside Paul Galgon & Dopey during their "Two On The Sunnyside" morning program on WKAP. It was because of Dopey that I pursued radio broadcasting as one of my first jobs.

Dopey was not just some guy who left me run the board, spin the EP's with ads on them or talk on the mic at WKAP. He also introduced me to fishing at Lake Wallenpaupack. Let me drive one of the 1/4 midget racers. Left me pump the player piano he had in his body shop out in Minesite, Pa.

The late mother-in-law used to live above Dopey when he was just a teenager. She remembered her mother going downstairs late a night where Dopey would be singing and playing his guitar to yell at him to shut up and go to bed. :-)

Coincidently on Saturday, Sept 18, 2010 in Allentown the 3rd Annual Road Jamboree and 2nd Annual Hamilton Street Cruise was held (10 a.m - 4 p.m.).

The event was sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Timing Association which is celebrating 55 years of continuous operation and in memory of Dopey Duncan.

Below I've gathered a bunch of articles (all from the Morning Call) that spoke of him.

They are direct COPY & PASTE. Therefore I give fully credited regards to The Morning Call- no copywrite violations are intended.

In 1987 I saw the Dopey Duncan's roast on TV at the 'Days Inn'. Sadly I cannot find a copy. I'd just love to post it here. It was attended by some 781 of his closest friends!

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Dopey Duncan' Gehringer Is Dead At 70
May 14, 1990 by GERARD M. SHIELDS, The Morning Call

Luther Gehringer, better known as "Dopey Duncan," whose career spanned four decades as a Lehigh Valley radio personality, comedian, country band leader, celebrated war veteran and race car builder, died Saturday night at his Eustis, Fla., home. He was 70.

For Gehringer, who made generations of area residents laugh with his outrageous costume featuring a checkered suit, goofy hat, string bow tie and trademark oversized yellow shoes, the end came tragically. He was found in his backyard with a gunshot wound to the head. A Lake County, Fla., medical examiner ruled the death a suicide.

Gehringer was suffering from a 1986 stroke that left the right side of his body paralyzed. Friends said that over the last few years, the injury also crippled the trademark charisma of Gehringer, who often used his celebrity status to raise money for Lehigh Valley youth programs.

Gehringer's professional singing career began in 1941. His last performance was about three weeks ago at an stroke clinic, where he entertained fellow stroke victims.

"Dopey was one in a million. He did so many things," said Les Baer, whom Gehringer recruited as a radio colleague at the former WKAP radio.

"Dopey was always known as my friend, my father, my teacher and my brother," added a choking Baer, who also played in the 1940s with Gehringer's country band Dopey Duncan and The Top Hands. "I can never repay him."

News of Gehringer's death rippled sadness through the overcast, damp Allentown area yesterday.

"He never wasted a minute," said Frank Kleckner, a childhood pal of Gehringer. "He was always doing something. If he fixed one car, he fixed a thousand."

Gehringer started his radio career with Allentown station WSAN. He was a comedy character on a weekly show, broadcast from a ranch mock-up in Dorney Park's Castle Gardens, South Whitehall Township. Gehringer once came on stage as the comic ranch hand Dopey, carrying an oversize cup and dunking a doughnut. The name Dopey Duncan stuck.

Although known for his humor, Gehringer had a serious side. He was most known for his WKAP radio career, which thrust him into the forefront of community and youth related issues from 1949 through 1973. Gehringer had two programs, 7 to 9 in the morning and 4 to 6 p.m., where he would send out his hard-hitting radio editorials on community issues, such as municipal services or the revitalization of downtown Allentown.

His name, program and credibility gave Gehringer more power and influence that some elected officials, friends said.

"He could point out the bad in the city and not get everybody mad," said Ogden "Oggie" Davies, who hired Gehringer when he served as vice president of Rahall Communications, which owned WKAP. "Everything he did was corrective. He was just a likable guy."

Gehringer's love for comedy, the stage and music was equal only to his passion for automobiles. An experienced auto mechanic, Duncan established a general-service garage in 1949 next to his home near Wescosville, where he modified engines for racing, experimented with various designs and made frequent trips to sprint car races.

Gehringer built race cars for some of the top Lehigh Valley drivers. The Indianapolis 500 became an annual pilgrimage for Gehringer, who was good friends with racer Mario Andretti. Yesterday Andretti finished taking his qualifying run at Indianapolis for the May 27 Indianapolis 500 race when he was told about Gehringer's death.

"He was one of the good guys that was always recognized as part of auto racing in the '50s," said Andretti in a phone interview after tentatively winning a second-row starting spot in the nation's most prestigious auto race.

"He was one of those rare breeds," Andretti said. "There were just so many who were like that and the mold was thrown away."

Andretti said he remembered Gehringer most as an announcer on the local midget racer circuit, where Andretti raced in the 1960s.

"He was very, very well known by Eastern fans," said a solemn Andretti, who was named honorary chairman of a local Gehringer roast in 1987. "I cherish the friendship."

Gehringer used his knowledge of mechanics as a positive way of reaching local youth. He was instrumental in forming the Lehigh Valley Timing Association, a "hot rod" group for teen-age boys in the 1950s.

Youths needed a place to race their cars, so Gehringer helped control drag races on an abandoned air strip at Queen City Airport twice a month. The innovative group was later copied in communities around the country.

"He was like a father to them all," said Baer, who also worked in Gehringer's auto body shop. "All those kids used his tools and paint equipment and he never took a dime from them."

He kept the garage, and three of Gehringer's band mates, who were also auto body artists, became his work mates.

Gehringer went to World War II and served in the Army's last cavalry unit, the 124th Horse Cavalry out of Brownsville, Texas. He fought in the China-Burma-India theater, but rarely talked about battles, even with his friends.

He later was asked to join the Canteen Caravan, a group of traveling war musicians and comics. After returning from the war, Gehringer opened a barn with horses at the Allentown Fairgrounds, where he trained horses.

Much of Gehringer's routines were performed in the Pennsylvania Dutch community, where he was active in Grundsau lodges.

In 1977, Gehringer and his wife, Betty, settled in Florida to get away from the cold weather. He continued his community activism, becoming president of the Kiwanis Club in Eustis.

He opened a garage and warehouse known as DD (Dopey Duncan) Specialties. He built his own home from plans in a how-to book published by Reader's Digest.

In February 1986, he was working on the roof of a garage, cutting beams with torch. He went home tired and during the night had a stroke. Over the last four years, Gehringer spent many days in rehabilitation, including at Allentown's Good Shepherd Home.

In 1987, many area residents gathered at the Days Inn Conference Center, South Whitehall Township, to honor and roast Gehringer. Allentown Mayor Joseph Daddona and Lehigh County Executive David Bausch led 781 friends who paid $20 a seat for the affair. In continuing his benevolence, Gehringer requested that some of the money go to the Lehigh Valley Heart Fund and to Good Shepherd.

Over the last few years, the impact of the stroke worsened. Gehringer explained to friends that the right side of his body had a constant burning sensation. The sensation got worse and kept Gehringer from sleeping.

"He couldn't even play the guitar anymore," said Davies, who talked to Gehringer last week. "It was pretty hard for a man like Dopey who was handy with tools and everything else."

Richard "Dick" Layton spend much of his life with Gehringer, serving as a guitarist in the Top Hands and an ace repairman in Gehringer's garage. He even moved to Florida with Gehringer and joined him in his new shop and warehouse.

About a month ago, Gehringer called Layton if he would play guitar for what he called "the stroke club." Gehringer agreed and the two got together to practice. In the middle of the practice, Gehringer broke down crying because he forgot some of the words to the old songs

"He could still sing good, (but) some of the numbers he'd forget," said Layton, who first met Gehringer in 1941 when he auditioned for the band at Allen Cab Co. "I said `Dopey stick to the easy stuff and we'll get through.'"

In his "show must go on" style, Gehringer performed for the stroke victims, telling jokes and singing the songs he knew.

Family members are planning services for Gehringer today. An additional memorial service will soon be held in the Allentown area, according to Gehringer's son, Geoffrey.

Also surviving in addition to his wife and son is Gehringer's daughter, Donna Raedler of Pennsburg, Montgomery County.

Many of Gehringer's friends spent yesterday reminiscing about the man they called "Dopey."

Kleckner recalled Gehringer's young teen entrance into show business.

"As kids sitting in the alleyway in the backyard, he decided he wanted to learn to play the guitar," Kleckner said. "We walked from Jefferson and Chew streets to Ikey Phillips at 4th and Hamilton. I think he paid $4."

Kleckner asked a reporter yesterday if he was doing a story on his childhood buddy.

"You'd better save a big page," he said somberly. "He had a big life."

781 Turn Out To Honor Dopey Duncan Friends,
Fans Say Thanks To Radio Star
June 29, 1987 by CHUCK PUKANECZ, The Morning Call

It was a night of jokes, memories and thanks.

It was a night to honor Dopey Duncan for his many contributions to the Lehigh Valley area over the years.

Dopey Duncan, an alias for Luther Gehringer, was the main attraction at a testimonial and roast attended by 781 friends and fans at the Days Inn Conference Center, South Whitehall Township.

Gehringer was active in many aspects of Lehigh Valley life, from entertaining as Dopey Duncan both live and on radio station WKAP for many years, and as a proponent of activities benefiting the area's youth.

"People do indeed remember you and what you've done for this community," former state senator JimRitter told Gehringer. "There's a lot of love in this room tonight, Luther Gehringer, and it's all for you."

Ritter read Gehringer one of the many proclamations he was to receive during the evening. Ritter presented one from the state Senate, honoring Gehringer for his service to the community. Ritter's daughter, Karen, D-131st District, presented another from the state House of Representatives honoring Gehringer. In addition, Allentown Mayor Joseph Daddona made June 28 "Dopey Duncan Day in Allentown," and Lehigh County Executive David K. Bausch proclaimed it "Luther Gehringer Week in Lehigh County."

Congratulations and good wishes also were sent from Gov. Robert Casey and President Reagan.

Many of Gehringer's long-time friends and co-workers roasted the 66-year- old, who now resides in Eustis, Fla. But before the jokes and fun got under way there were some more serious moments from Gehringer's fellow veterans of the China-Burma-India theater in World War II.

While an address was being read by a representative of the veterans' Great Valley Basha, Gehringer's face reddened and his eyes began to tear. He took off his glasses and wiped his eyes, then tried to hide his emotions from a touched crowd by covering his eyes.

Later in the evening, the roast began and Gehringer was forced to laugh at himself as his friends recalled stories of his past.

Gehringer got the last words in, however. He thanked everyone for their efforts in organizing the diner, which he thought was going to be nothing more than a little get together with friends. He wrapped up the evening with a poem, which he said was always important to him: "The Face In The Glass," about the importance of being true to oneself.

Gehringer received a standing ovation and, after the benediction, was kept at the head table for aboutan hour as streams of well-wishers approached him.

Walley Ely, chairman of the event, presented the honoree with an oil portrait of Gehringer and his wife, Betty, painted by Ronald DeLong of Allentown. He also presented a caricature portrait created by Allentown artist James Musselman, featuring scenes from Gehringer's life.

Betty Gehringer was presented with a video cassette recorder, because Gehringer has never agreed to have a VCR in the home, and they would need one to view a video tape made of the evening.

In his role as comedian Dopey Duncan, Gehringer used to dress in an outrageous costume including a checkered suit, a goofy hat, a string bow tie and oversized yellow shoes. His act, which was performed before a variety of audiences, often featured Pennsylvania Dutch humor.

Gehringer also was a radio celebrity, performing regularly on WKAP for more than 20 years. The achievement he was most praised for last night was not the fame he gained through entertaining, however. It was how he used his fame.

Gehringer was long an activist for community change and for a positive approach to local youth. A mechanic by trade, he was instrumental in forming the Lehigh Valley Timing Association, a "hot rod" group for teen-age boys in the 1950s. The group held controlled drag races on an abandoned air strip at Queen City Airport twice a month. The innovative group was later copied in communities around the country.

In continuing with his benevolence, Gehringer requested that some of the proceeds of last night's dinner, which cost $20 a seat, be donated to the Lehigh Valley Heart Fund and to Good Shepherd Home and Rehabilitation Hospital.

Mario Andretti, the honorary chairman of the event, was unable to attend last night because of his involvement with a grand prix race at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.

Gehringer is still partially paralyzed on his right side from a stroke he suffered in February of 1986.

Broadcaster gave 50s teens a voice and a place to race
May 02, 2002 By WALLY ELY, Special to The Morning Call -- Freelance

Gene Jaindl of Allentown tells it best: Dopey Duncan was getting fed up with the antics of his fellow WKAP broadcaster "Uncle Tom" Livsey. The long summer of Livsey's harassment of the teenage drivers in the Lehigh Valley had gotten to Dopey.

Livsey loved to brag how he knew everything that was going on in Allentown. City Hall. The Police Station. "Up and down the Rialto." And, he made a career of blasting politicians who didn't see eye-to-eye with him. His "Melody Ranch" noontime radio program on WKAP was extremely popular in the early 1950s, so when Livsey spoke, he was bolstering listeners who looked to him for support of their ideas.

BLOGGER COMMENT: If you think bloggers are a pain in the ass.. Livsey was a pure bastard for area politicians to endure! I can't count the number of lawsuits that were flying around when he was on WKAP and later on WHOL

So, Jaindl remembers that this young entertainer and car repairman-turned-broadcaster; a relative newcomer to radio took a bold step which would help him take his popularity to new heights, leap-frogging over Livsey as the voice the community cared about and respected.

In real life, he was Luther Gehringer, a Pennsylvania Dutchman through and through. Married. Father of two. Owned his own garage business. Played in more than one country band. But he was mostly known by his entertainer persona "Dopey Duncan."

It was the fall of 1952, and Jaindl was 16 when he heard Dopey invite young drivers in the community to a gathering one evening in a gas station on Union Boulevard in East Allentown. Livsey wasn't in on this one!

Duncan invited the president of the National Hot Rod Association, Wally Parks, from California to the session. To everyone's pleasure and amazement, Parks showed up! Duncan told the crowd of teenagers that he would support an effort to keep automobile racing off the streets, if the group could come up with a drag strip that was off the public right-of-way. That was what the teens wanted to hear: Adults agreeing with their ideas, and offering to help. And they had clout, locally (Duncan) and nationally (Parks.)

The young men formed a club to emulate hot rod racing organizations on the West Coast. Jaindl remembers they named themselves the Lehigh Valley Timing Association, and elected Duncan the first president. The quest for a permanent home and for a drag racing site was under way. Dopey had put a positive spin on all the bluster coming from another broadcaster, and was doing something constructive about it.

The kids (hardly any were as old as 20) decided early on that driving violations would not be tolerated. The peer pressure to drive safely on the streets was enormous. And it worked. The kids toed the line!

Within months, Duncan opened the doors to his auto body shop near Wescosville -- sharing everything he had with the young drivers. They in turn respected Dopey, accepted his help and learned from him. Soon, a barn along Spring Creek Road in western Lehigh County became available. Duncan made the arrangements, and the Timing Association had a place to hold meetings, work on cars, gather and share youthful ideas.

The kids decided to demonstrate to the community their sincerity about being good citizens, exactly the opposite of the Livsey picture of thugs and reckless hoodlums. They carried in their pockets business cards that read, "You Have Been Assisted By A Member Of The Lehigh Valley Timing Association, dedicated to safety…" At every opportunity, club members would help a stranded motorist get back on the road with a can of gas or a battery jump start. And they would never take a penny, choosing instead to hand the grateful motorist that little business card.

If Duncan were here, he would tell you of the phone calls and letters of thanks he received about this process. Every incident furthered his cause of making his LVTA members a bastion of respectability. Duncan told and retold the success stories of his young followers. Meanwhile, WKAP listeners every day heard about the need for an off-highway racing drag strip.

Duncan lobbied city fathers in Allentown for permission for LVTA to organize drag racing activities on a city-owned abandoned airport on the south side of the city of Allentown. Concurrently, Duncan negotiated with farmers around Trexlertown, trying to identify a drag racing site.

Maybe they got sick of seeing Duncan at city council meetings. For whatever reason, Allentown Mayor Donald Hock and city council eventually gave in and said, "yes." And from then on, it was up to the kids to prove they could do what they promised.

This is not the place to explain the success of the Convair Airport Drag Race operation. In short, the kids did all that was expected of them, and more! The Lehigh Valley Timing Association had pulled itself up from a bare bones beginning in 1952 to a respected organization in national drag racing circles by 1955!
All because Dopey Duncan decided to stick up for the young people of the Lehigh Valley.

Wally Ely is a producer and reporter for "Time Out Lehigh Valley" on RCN. He is retired from a career in bank marketing and research.


Lots More Information: A Blog Memorial to DD

America ON WHEELS Museum --Dopey Duncan" in His Shop"He owned the "Dopey Duncan's Auto Body Shop" in Wescoesville, Pennsylvania and, later, Cooper's Speed Shop in Alllentown. The car in the display area is a 1934 Chevrolet Hot Rod Coupe."

The "Orlando Sentinel" Obit-
Ex-radio Host 'Dopey Duncan,' 69, Dies "When Gehringer and his wife, Betty, retired in the early 1970s, they sold their home and set out to travel the country in a motor home. When they arrived in Lake County, they went no farther."
(Jake) VARGO DRAGWAY - A BRIEF HISTORY
Yes, Luther "Dopey Duncan" Gehringer even had a part of it's history too!

Frankie Laine Singing Dopey's Theme Song used for his radio program