January 13, 1931 - March 02, 2018
WHAM, Earl T - January 13, 1931 - March 02. 2018 Earl Theodore Wham, born January 13th, 1931 in Republic, WA to Donald and Mary Wham, passed away at his home on March 2, 2018. He graduated from Lewis and Clark High School. Served in the Naval Reserve, married his wife Catherine Schultz, and spent his entire career with the Pacific Northwest Bell company. - Earl had multiple claims to fame. He raced stock cars at the old Mead and the Albi Race Tracks. His driving desire to win his races was superseded only by his abandoned wrecklessness! In his first eight races, he rolled his car nine times. However, perseverance and pure talent prevailed. With his crew, Fred Rogers, Robert Schultz and Buster Harrington, Earl became a champion, setting records at both the Mead Race Track and the Joe Albi Stadium which still stands today, fifty years later. His talent of making faster and more powerful motors, coupled with his skill of driving and utter fearlessness ultimately forced the officials to ban his car, telling him. “The fans came to see a race, not a 'blow out' every week!" Earl's solution was to take the motor out of his car and put it in a hydroplane boat called Holy Smoke. He went on to win over 100 races in this 266 class. His winning record was such that Power Boat Magazine in 1973 gave him the title of 'SuperWham’. Then he started competing in the 7-litre class in his Miss Merion Bluegrass boat. After breaking the world straight-away speed record in both boats, he spent his last year of competitive racing as the driver of the Unlimited Atlas Van Lines. He may have retired from competitive racing, but for many years he continued to build winning motors for future racers! - His wife, Catherine Schultz, and brother, Leslie Wham, preceded him in death. Earl is survived by three siblings; Paul Wham (wife, Gail), two sisters, Marna Wilso, and Lucy Jydstrup; many nieces and nephews; numerous friends; and hundreds of racing fans. Friends and family will miss his competitive, winning spirit. Service will be held Saturday, April 7th, 2018 at l0:00 am at the Spokane Valley Church of the Nazarene located at 15515 E. 20th Ave., Spokane, WA 99037.
