Marguerite Mary "Margie" Mohn was born to John and Mary (Blessing) Mohn - both emigrants from Stuttgart, Germany - on Oct. 25, 1904, just more than a year after Henry Ford introduced mass production of automobiles to the United States. She had a lifelong career in the automobile industry. By 1927, the year after Hudson introduced the Essex Phaeton, billed as the world's largest single body-building unit - complete with a starter button on the instrument panel, a first in the industry - she was working at the Hudson Motor Car Co.
Having acquired typing and office skills in high school, she began her climb to her eventual role as executive secretary in the planning and export department of the company. She was there through Hudson's eventual merger with Nash Motors and again when it merged with American Motors. And, while she never drove, she did own a Terraplane. The Terraplane, manufactured between 1932 and 1939, was a popular vehicle at that time. That Amelia Earhart became a kind of celebrity spokesperson for the Terraplane hints of the Hudson glory days. And Ms. Mohn was there, quietly purchasing a new sedan every three years for her brother and his family. In return, he drove her to work each day. After 40 years of employment and worldwide travel with Hudson, Nash and American Motors, she retired at age 62 and began her winter visits to Florida. In the 1990s, she first began to spend winters exclusively in St. Petersburg and made it her permanent home in March 2003.
Years of dressing for her career and membership in the Detroit Museum of Art Guild, the Detroit Historical Society and the Women's Club of Detroit created a habit of fashion that she continues. A longtime member of the Detroit Boat Club, the oldest rowing club in America, she still loves to see freighters and ships near Demens Landing.
And, with only the aid of reading glasses, she continues to read a lot. She enjoys a good mystery and recently told a friend, "I hope there's a library in heaven."
We think that living 100 years is worth our taking notice. If you or a family member is about to celebrate a 100th birthday or more, please let us know. Include the following information: the person's full name, date of birth, place of birth, parents' names (including mother's maiden name) if known, name of spouse (if applicable), marriage date, names of children and number of grandchildren (if applicable), length of time the person has lived in this area and a phone number in case we have questions. Also, please include a photo that doesn't need to be returned. We'll publish the information as close to the birthday as possible. Send the information to 100-year Birthdays, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731-1121 or fax to (727) 893-8675.
