The man that Berwyn inspired to become a car designer will soon retire at the top of the business from General Motors Co.

Vice President of Global Design Ed Welburn announced this week that he will park his career for good on July 1, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal by Gautham Nagesh.

Welburn, whose father’s small auto repair shop in Berwyn fostered a love for cars more than a half-century ago, is “known for steering GM’s styling efforts through tumultuous times, including the 2009 bankruptcy and the elimination of several iconic brands,” the article stated.

The fingerprints of his talents are all over the revival of the Chevy Camaro and the creation of the Buick Enclave SUV.

Leaving as the “highest-ranking African-American in automotive design,” Welburn will be succeeded by GM International Design’s Michael Simcoe.

Read more about Welburn’s drive to the summit of his career in The Wall Street Journal here, and check out previous VISTA Today coverage of his local beginnings here.