Crown Victoria Association member #3068, Dean Held, from Oregon City, Oregon has just retired from Hyster-Yale Group on March 31, 2017 after an impressive combined 30 years of outstanding service with the company. Dean has been active in the club for many years.

Dean began his career with Hyster Company in 1962 immediately after graduating from the University of Idaho with his BS degree in Agricultural Engineering. Dean started out as a Test Engineer at the Hyster Proving Grounds in Portland, Oregon, where he spent the next 5 years. He next ran the Hyster Engineering Lab at Hyster’s original Portland, Oregon factory for 2 years. Then in 1968 he transitioned to the newly completed Hyster Technical Center as a Supervising Test Engineer. During the next decade he was responsible for the test and development programs for a vast range of Hyster product including: Hyster Big Trucks, Winches, Cranes and Compactors. During 1977 and 1978 he transferred to the then company-owned Hyster Sales dealership in Tigard, Oregon as the Product Service Manager.

In 1978 Dean took an opportunity outside the company with Lumber Systems, and then went on to run his own company constructing sawmills throughout the United States while based out of Idaho.

In 2003, Dean returned to Hyster Company to assist us with the development of a brand new 1 to 8 Ton product series just getting underway. He became the Prototype Truck Assembly Leader for the entire 1 to 8 Ton engine powered forklift truck program, organizing and fully stocking the facility to build 40 complete prototype forklift trucks.

At the time, Dean and his wife Jan were still maintaining their home in Idaho and commuting back to Fairview, Oregon on the weekends until they eventually relocated to a farm east of Oregon City.

Following this program’s completion, Dean transitioned to the Electric Truck group where he was again instrumental in building prototype electric powered forklift trucks. He then became a key member of the test team with focus on developing the electrical drive and control systems. He has an amazing knowledge of machinery, wiring, computer control systems, troubleshooting abilities, engines, hydraulics, and all around ability to get the job done no matter what it involves.

Dean and his wife Jan have been active in restoring old cars throughout his working career. He has a large collection of 1955-56 Fords, including a newly restored regency purple and snowshoe white ’55 Crown Victoria, an almost finished ’55 Sunliner, a ’56 Crown Victoria, a ’56 Victoria, a beautiful ’54 Mercury and several pickups, tractors, and other collector cars and parts that he has gathered over the years.

They will now be able to devote more time to their restoration projects and car events while also traveling and spending time with their family and many friends.

The attached caricature was commissioned by the Hyster-Yale Group as a retirement gift for Dean and was created by FunFaces.com. Dean’s recently restored ’55 Crown Victoria and his ’54 Mercury are shown in the photos.

By: Dennis Tokstad (member #9082)
Engineering Manager – Hyster-Yale Group