Catholic faith is driving force for international auto show official

Published: 2006-01-13

DETROIT (CNS) -- In the final week before the 2006 North American International Auto Show opened, Richard Genthe rushed from appointment to appointment making sure everything was on track for the exhibition. The auto show's 53-year-old co-chairman, a Catholic, was quick to credit God with the talent and skill to be able to handle so many projects at once. "I think we all need to figure out how to make the best use of the gifts the Lord has given us," he said. "I won't be bored when the auto show is over." The show, taking place Jan. 14-22, is a longtime Detroit tradition held annually since 1907 except during and right after World War II. For the past 17 years, the show has been international, exhibiting cars from all over the world. Last year, more than 773,000 people attended. Genthe has helped lead the auto show for the past five years. He also owns a Chevrolet dealership. At work, he tries to live out his faith in how he does business and interacts with his employees. When something goes wrong in the lives of his employees, they know they can come to him and pray together, he said.

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