Obituary: Milton Edward 'Ted' Bacon

MILTON EDWARD "TED" BACON

Born March 7, 1927 in Pasadena, Calif. Died November 23, 2010 in a tragic automobile accident in Southern California. He was 83. Mr. Bacon attended Polytechnic School, in Pasadena, Culver Military Academy, and the University of Colorado at Boulder. For the past 60 years, he was engaged in cattle ranching in the Carson Valley. A passionate automobile historian and collector, he served as a judge at several venerable Concours d'Elegance, most notably Hillsborough and, for 39 consecutive years, at Pebble Beach, Calif. He was a founding director of the National Automobile Museum - The Harrah Collection in Reno, and was on the board of the Sierra Arts Foundation for many years. Mr. Bacon served as a Trustee of the Santa Catalina School in Monterey, Calif., as well as the Citizens' Advisory Board of the University of Nevada, Reno Medical School. He supported both the Boy Scouts of America and the Boys & Girls Club of San Francisco and was a member of the Bohemian Club and St. Francis Yacht Club of San Francisco and Birnam Wood Golf Club in Montecito. A pilot for more than 50 years and a lover of wooden boats, Mr. Bacon kept a classic boat on Lake Tahoe for most of his life. He was an enthusiastic sailor, participating in four Trans-Pac races in the 1950s. A lifelong Republican, Mr. Bacon served as Douglas County Chairman for 12 years. He is survived by his wife Lee, son Ned, daughter Kate, sister Mimi Lyon of Greenwich, Conn., and four grandchildren, Taylor, Sheila, and Wells Phinny, and Emily Bacon. Friends will be welcomed at an open house at the Bacons' Jubilee Ranch residence in the Carson Valley from 3-7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations being made to the National Automobile Museum as a tribute to Mr. Bacon.