Who #529 - Edsel Ruddiman, Henry Ford's School Chum & Edsel Ford's Namesake

[Otto Puzzell]

[attachimg=1]

For one point: Who is the gentleman pictured, and what is his connection with the world of cars?

Only a correct, complete and specific answer will earn a point; tag-on's to other guesses will not. So, be specific and complete!
 

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[Otto Puzzell]

Up

[richard cuyler]

Andre Citroen?

[Otto Puzzell]

Non

[spider]

Mr Toyoda??

[Otto Puzzell]

ノー

[Otto Puzzell]

Up

[targhediferro]

Armand Peugeot?

[Otto Puzzell]

Non

[targhediferro]

Was he a driver? If yes perhaps Gendebien?

[Otto Puzzell]

No sir.

He almost certainly operated an automobile at some point, but not as a race driver. And he never drove one of the cars that eventually bore his name, twice removed. 

He did eventually come to work for an automotive company, but left on less than happy terms.

[sixtee5cuda]

Connected to a European car company?

[Otto Puzzell]

No, not directly.

[4popoid]

Connected to a car company of the USA?

[Otto Puzzell]

Connected to a car company of the USA?

Yes

[Otto Puzzell]

Not an obscure make at all.

[Bill Murray]

Edsel Ford Sr.??

[ropat53]

Louis Chevrolet?

[Otto Puzzell]

Edsel Ford Sr.??

That's the best guess so far. Close, but not him exactly. 

[Otto Puzzell]

Louis Chevrolet?

No

[pnegyesi]

William S Knudsen?

[Otto Puzzell]

No sir

[Tom_I]

I can't find the puzzle picture anywhere, but from the evidence that has come out so far, I'd take a guess that this is a photograph of Dr Edsel A. Ruddiman in his youth. He was a respected research chemist, best known for his work on soybean-based products.

He was a childhood friend and classmate of Henry Ford, and his brother married Ford's sister. Ford named his son Edsel after Ruddiman, so later ("twice removed") the Edsel car bore Ruddiman's name, but he never drove one, as he died before it was introduced.

From 1928 Ruddiman worked as a research chemist at the Ford Motor Company, again mostly on soybean products, but left in less than happy circumstances around 1940 after a disagreement with Ford over Ruddiman's retirement.

[Otto Puzzell]

A perfect answer, and another point.