Volunteer Spotlight: Bruce Blevins

A lifelong love of Packard – and a hand in building PPG’s future.

A Lifelong Love of Packard

Bruce’s Packard story begins at age nine, when his Uncle Jim rolled a 1934 Packard into the family business for restoration. “I fell in love with the front end,” Bruce says simply. That early spark turned into a lifetime. He bought his first Packard—a 1933—at 18, then served ten years in the Army, flying helicopters and graduating from West Point along the way. When he returned, Uncle Jim had kept that Packard safe for him, and Bruce dove back in.

Building a Future for PPG

Around 2000, a meeting about a place Bruce had never heard of—Packard Proving Grounds—changed everything. He showed up once and never really left. By 2005, he’d joined the Board of Trustees and served as treasurer for 15 years.

“I like the mechanical side of things,” he says, almost offhand. But that modest line understates what he did: helped make the site functional. Heat and air conditioning. Electricity. Bathrooms. Weddings to build revenue. He helped turn a fragile hope into a sustainable operation.

Today, Bruce continues to volunteer—working with Building & Grounds, tackling repairs and special projects—and he still lights up talking about the place. “It’s a National Historic Site,” he says, “and it played a big part in American history and automotive development—here and around the world. It was a place of firsts.”

He loves sharing that pride with visitors and remembers asking tour groups, “How many people never heard of Packard before you came here?” The number surprised him, especially among younger guests. “That’s what we’re trying to do—educate people about Packard’s importance.”

Ask for his favorite memory, and he doesn’t go sentimental so much as humble: “I’m proud of what I did,” he admits, then quickly adds, “I just happened to be there when it was needed.” The truth is, many of us know how much he mattered—how much he still matters.

A Place Worth Caring For

Bruce’s generosity extends beyond projects. He’s built friendships—many close, some with those we’ve sadly lost—and he lights up talking about them. There’s “Good Bruce” and “Bad Bruce” (he’s “Good Bruce,” of course), and a deep gratitude for everyone who wants the site “to succeed, expand, grow, stabilize, and be a shining gem for Shelby Township.”

He also paints one of the most beautiful pictures of PPG you’ll ever hear: “If you’re having a bad day, walk to the west end and stand with your back to the timing stand. Look east. The elms are forming a canopy. You see the white wall at the far end, then the big flagpole and the American flag against the blue sky. You can’t stand there and look at that and have a bad day.” You can hear the affection in his voice. It’s contagious.

Beyond the Proving Grounds

Outside the grounds, Bruce is a self-proclaimed devotee of the 1933 Packard (“Everything before ’33 were prototypes; everything after were retros,” he jokes). He also collects Edison crank-up phonographs—12 to 14 at last count—because, as he says, “I love mechanical things.” He and his wife raised two wonderful kids—Ben, who’s now the fourth-generation owner of the family business, and Whitney, an ER physician.

“I’m a very lucky, very blessed person,” Bruce says. “I’ve done things most people haven’t—visited all 50 states and four continents so far.” His eyes are set on the remaining continents, though Australia and New Zealand currently top his favorites list, thanks to their astonishing scenery and refreshingly honest culture.

Step Into the Unknown

If you ask Bruce for advice about volunteering, he keeps it simple and generous: “Make your wishes and interests known from the start—and be willing to step into the unknown. You might discover a whole side of yourself you didn’t know was there.” And to those interested, he offers a heartfelt invitation: “If you live nearby and you’re not volunteering, stop by and talk to us. You’re missing out on a very rewarding part of your life.”