1939
July 1: Jack Wicks and Paul G. Crawshaw co-found WIX Accessories, Inc. (later re-named Wix Corporation) in Gastonia, N.C. (In 1979 Wix Corporation is acquired by Dana Holding Corporation.)

November 21: Clarence Spicer dies.

1944
Spicer Manufacturing Company employs approximately 10,000 people.

1945
Spicer Manufacturing Company acquires Atlas Drop Forge Company. Re-named the Atlas Division in 1964, the group manufactured forgings, connecting rods and camshafts.

1946
July 12: Spicer Manufacturing Company is renamed Dana Corporation.

1948
Ricardo Albarus founds Albarus in Brazil. (In 1957 Albarus is acquired by Dana Corporation.)

Ralph Carpenter becomes CEO of Dana Holding Corporation. Charles Dana becomes chairman of the board.

1953
Ralph Carpenter retires, and John “Jack” Martin becomes president.

1954
Dana Holding Corporation celebrates its 50^th Anniversary. Dana Holding Corporation achieves its highest sales gross of all-time with $203 million in sales.

1955
May 24: Kingsley Humbert and Paul Francois of Wix Corp. perfect the design for a spin-on oil filter conceived of by Jack Wicks. The filter will eventually become the standard equipment in new cars. (In 1979 Wix Corporation is acquired by Dana Corporation.)

1957
Perfect Circle introduces the first automatic speed control to the automotive industry. (In 1963 Perfect Circle Corporation is acquired by Dana Corporation.)

Dana Holding Corporation acquires Albarus (Brazil). The group is later re-named Dana Albarus.

1963
July 1: Dana Holding Corporation acquires Perfect Circle Corporation (Hagerstown, Ind.), the world’s oldest and largest producer of piston rings.

1964
Dana Holding Corporation celebrates its 60^th anniversary. Dana Holding Corporation operates 23 plants and employs approximately 16,000 people.

1966
September 1: Victor Gasket Manufacturing Company is acquired by Dana Holding Corporation.

December 13: Charles Dana retires as Chairman/CEO after 53 years of continuous service; Jack Martin is Dana Holding Corporation’s successor.

1968
July: Rene “Ren” McPherson is elected president and chief operating officer of Dana Holding Corporation. Jack Martin continues as chairman.

1969
November: The Employee Stock Purchase Plan debuts.

Dana University is founded.

1972
December 8: Jack Martin retires as chairman after 20 years of service with the company. Ren McPherson succeeds Martin as chairman and CEO.

Newly elected Chairman and CEO Ren McPherson begins his tenure by burning the cumbersome manuals of policies and procedures. McPherson issues a one-page sheet of “Forty Thoughts” covering behavior and attitude.

1974
October 14: Dana Holding Corporation breaks the $1 billion sales barrier.

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