1981 Outstanding Member of the Year *** Dan Flanagan

Dan Flanagan

Dan was always curious about moving parts and at age 12, with no experience, began the process of replacing the clutch in his family’s 1934 Oldsmobile.  After much effort, and a lack of proper tools, he finally got the vehicle repaired and it was used until 1947 when his dad bought a new car.

After a few years with Dell Publishing Company in the Seattle area, Dan began his automotive career selling Plymouths and Chryslers in the University District.  He later worked for Huling Bros. Buick in West Seattle, but had a strong desire to own his own business.  In the spring of 1956, Dan bought a service station which he operated for a year, then moved the auto repair part of that business to the Yellow Cab building downtown.  He later bought his building at 12th & Madison where Flanagan Automotive operated for decades.  Dan retired from Flanagan Automotive in 1983.

Dan’s involvement in industry affairs was always evident.  In 1958, he helped form the Seattle chapter of the Independent Garage Owners Association (IGO), and in 1959 was instrumental in the formation of the Washington State IGO (later became Automotive Service Councils (ASC), which is now Automotive Service Association of Washington (ASA-WA).

He was the state president of ASC in 1978 and for two terms (1981-82 and 1982-83) served as National Mechanical Chairman for ASC.  With the formation of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) in 1972, Dan became actively involved in promoting automotive technician certification for many years.  Since his retirement as a shop owner, Dan has been the Northwest field representative for ASE.  He officially retires from ASE on June 30, 2008.

Dan also has been a major supporter of automotive education and training programs such as VICA, ITEC, VMMC, and many others.  He has served on numerous automotive education and training program boards and councils at high schools, colleges, and vocational centers throughout the Northwest.
For his outstanding efforts on behalf of the industry and education, Dan has been honored with dozens of awards and citations over the years.
*2004 -  Lifetime Achievement Award - ASA National 
*1992 - Industry Leader of the Year Award - Northwest Automotive Boosters                                                                                                              *1981 - Washington Garage Man of the Year Award - ASC

Also an avid airplane pilot for many years, Dan was honored as the Pilot of the Year in 1989 by the Washington State Pilots Association.  Dan published The Manifold, a Puget Sound area trade journal for the auto repair industry for many years.  In 1992, The Oregon Manifold was formed.  The Manifold merged into Northwest Motor Edition of Parts & People in 2002, and Dan continues to provide editorial content for that publication.