Monroe Dodge founder Ralph Mahalak Sr. and his wife, Jane, made Monroe their home in 1966. Ralph Mahalak Sr. was born on Feb. 14, 1940, into a Great Depression-surviving family. Jane Mahalak was born on July 8, 1941. Originally from Wyandotte, the grade-school sweethearts married on Oct. 29, 1960. Ralph Mahalak Sr. found early he had a love of cars, first by hanging bumpers at a Chevrolet assembly plant and then deciding that some aspect of the car business was for him.
Tom Adamich is a local journalist based in Monroe, Michigan. He has written for various publications including the Monroe News, Yahoo News, Bargain Hunter, and has been featured in The Daily Telegram. Tom's articles cover a range of topics including local history, community events, automotive technology, and business profiles.