Harold LeMay

Harold E. LeMay (September 4, 1919 - 2000) was the owner of Harold LeMay Enterprises, a refuse company in the Tacoma, Washington metro area. Harold LeMay amassed the largest privately owned collection of automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, other vehicles and related memorabilia in the world. At its peak, the LeMay Collection numbered in excess of 3,000 vehicles and thousands of "automobilia" artifacts. The Collection, recognized by many as a national treasure, represents the American experience with the automobile as it spans the 20th century and features virtually every American make as well as numerous foreign cars. Currently, the bulk of the LeMay Collection is still housed on LeMay property. Many of the automobiles are in the process of being donated to the LeMay Museum in order to be accessible to the public. The LeMay Collection was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1996 as the largest privately owned car collection in the world.

Each summer, Harold LeMay, his wife Nancy, and their family would open their estate for an annual car show. This tradition has continued each summer on the last Saturday in August when thousands of visitors have the opportunity to view this collection. Hundreds of Harold LeMay's cars will be shown at "America's Car Museum" in Tacoma, Washington when it opens in 2010 near the Tacoma Dome. In the meantime, the LeMay - America's Car Museum is open to the public on the historic Marymount grounds in Spanaway, WA.