Obituary: Sam Dixon, Former Editor Jobber News Magazine, Automotive Aftermarket Personality

Sam Dixon, long time editor of Jobber News Magazine and noted personality of the Canadian automotive aftermarket, has died in his 78th year.
Dixon began his publishing career during high-school as a sports writer in British Columbia. Following distinguished service in the Royal Canadian Air Force, he continued to work in the media as a reporter for the Vancouver Sun.
He first began to work in earnest with the automotive aftermarket when, in 1957, the New Westminster, B.C. native helped to form the publishing arm of the Automotive Retailers Association of B.C. to produce Automotive Retailer Magazine. In 1962 he moved to Toronto and joined Wadham Publications Limited in Toronto, publishers of Jobber News Magazine, Bodyshop Magazine and Service Station & Garage Management.
He joined Wadham as editor of Automotive Service in Canada, which was to become Service Station & Garage Management, becoming a partner in the company in 1965. He took over as editor of Jobber News Magazine in June 1969 and, after many years at the helm, wrote his last editorial in 1982, when he took over as president.
Dixon retired from the company in 1986 following its sale to Southam Communications, now known as The Business Information Group.
In his years with Wadham, he became a fixture of the automotive aftermarket, being rewarded for his work with the industry and its associations with the presentation of the Automotive Industries Association of Canada’s Distinguished Service Award in 1981.
He was a profound believer in the industry, so much so that he encouraged his family to become in involved in the jobbing trade. Today, Bruce and Bill Dixon are partners in B & B Dixon Automotive with Barry Borovoy, a Uni-Select associate in Newmarket, Ont.
Dixon was also a spiritual man and practicing deacon in the Roman Catholic church, among other capacities with church and community organizations.
He is survived by wife Mary Pearl, sons and daughters-in-law Bruce, Nancy, Bill, Mark and Karen, and numerous nieces, nephews, grand and great grandchildren.
Visitation is being held at the T. Harry Hoffman & Sons Funeral Home, Dashwood, Ont., Friday, December 7, 7:30 p.m to 9:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held in Grand Bend, Ont., at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church, Saturday, December 8 at 11:00 a.m. Charitable donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society or charity of choice.