Walter Drey was an American businessman and the first president of the National Automobile Dealers Association. He was also the first president of the Automobile Trade Association of the District of Columbia.
Walter Drey was an American businessman and entrepreneur who was best known for his role as the president of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA). He was born in New York City in 1891 and attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a degree in economics.
Drey began his career in the automotive industry in 1915, when he joined the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA). He quickly rose through the ranks and was appointed president of the organization in 1921. During his tenure, he was instrumental in the development of the NADA Code of Ethics, which set standards for the automotive industry. He also worked to improve the quality of service provided by dealerships and to ensure that dealerships were properly compensated for their services.
In addition to his work with NADA, Drey was also involved in a number of other automotive-related organizations. He was a founding member of the Automotive Trade Association of America (ATAA) and served as its president from 1924 to 1926. He was also a member of the Automotive Manufacturers Association (AMA) and the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association (APMA).
Throughout his career, Drey was a strong advocate for the automotive industry and its dealers. He was a vocal opponent of government regulation of the industry and was a strong proponent of free enterprise. He was also a strong supporter of the National Automobile Dealers Association and its mission to promote the interests of dealers.
Drey passed away in 1962 at the age of 71. He was posthumously inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 1965. He is remembered as a leader in the automotive industry and a champion of the rights of dealers.