Hit Man

Anyone who works in this industry, adapting motor vehicles for persons with disabilities, takes pride in their ability to customize a vehicle to meet the needs of their client. The new set of wheels can help someone get back to their life and their profession.

Our dealer in Denver, Dick DeVoe, spent many years creating wheelchair vans. His dealership was located close to Craig Hospital. In the 1970's Craig was the number one hospital in the country for persons with spinal cord injuries. Workman's compensation physicians from the entire country sent their spinal cord injuried patients to Craig.

One Wednesday, Dick's shop was starting a van conversion for a customer when they received a telephone call from him. Craig was releasing him on Saturday and he needed the van to return to St. Louis.

Dick and his guys immediately doubled their efforts. They installed a lift, power door openers, hand controls and a transfer seat in record time. By Saturday morning the van was done. The young man, a paraplegic, and two friends paid cash for the van and left.

Monday morning, bright and early the FBI and local police covered the shop like a blanket. The young man was a mob hit man who had been wounded and paralyzed by someone from another gang.

Dick's customer had skipped out of rehab early, against doctor's advice, and before the FBI knew he was gone. They wanted him because he had sworn vengeance on the man who shot him and they wanted to avoid a gun battle in St. Louis.

I don't know if they ever caught him, but it was another proud day for the guys who modify vans and get persons with disabilities back to their old professions.