Connor Genteman (middle) hosts Connor’s Car Show with Eli Malloy (left) with a Longhorn Helicopters B206 and Brandon Harrell (right), owner of Harrell Whitetail Ranch and the MD 500. The car is a 1965 Ford Mustang GT restomod. Connor’s Car Show was started by Connor’s father Ty Genteman to raise awareness about Down Syndrome and autism, and to raise money for charities and hospitals that support research and treatment.
Connorscarshow.com Photo: Chad Terrell
Best of people — Ty Genteman and Connor’s Foundation
In this issue’s Executive Watch column, we highlighted the career and life of Boeing Global Services’ Ty Genteman. In speaking with him, we learned how his can-do attitude and organizational skills spill over into his personal life to benefit many families with special needs children.
In 2008, Genteman and his wife Lydia excitedly prepared for the arrival of their first born, but a routine sonogram changed the way they would look at life forever. They learned their still-in-the- womb son not only had Down Syndrome, but also a heart defect that might require surgery shortly after birth. Following the momentary joy of their son’s birth, joy shifted to survival as Connor was immediately moved to the neonatal
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intensive care unit (NICU). The family soon endured a nine-hour heart surgery to close the holes in Connor’s young heart.
Genteman reflects back on the first six months after Connor’s arrival as one of the most challenging times of his family’s life. “In these types of life experiences, you can either let it crush you or use it as motivation,” he said. The Gentemans chose the latter.
After three years and several surgeries, Connor began to stabilize and the Gentemans then focused on day-to-day living with a special needs child, and on how their family could help others in similar situations. One and a half years prior to Connor’s birth, Genteman bought a vintage Ford Mustang with the intent to restore it. That project was put on hold until Connor was 4 years old. Finally, by the time Connor was 8, the car was restored and ready to roll. Genteman began hitting car shows as a hobby, and he and his friends began kicking around the idea of holding their own car show to raise awareness and benefit families of
special needs kids. Genteman says the goal of the first “Connor’s Car Show” in 2014 was to gather 100 cars and raise $10,000. Approximately $16,000 was raised after 196 cars showed up.
Over the years, Connor has developed into an ambassador for the event, and he impacts people’s lives with his infectious smile. “If you’re not happier after Connor smiles at you, something’s not right,” says his proud father. “He has a pure joy about him that’s so impactful, and in some way it reminds you of what’s really important.”
In 2019, the Connor’s Foundation car show featured 500 cars, 20,000 spectators, and two helicopters, raising over $70,000 for the cause. It should also be mentioned that many of the coveted trophies at these events are custom made and donated by helicopter companies including Dallas Airmotive, H+S Aviation, Cadorath, and AeroMaritime to name a few.
The Genteman family is an inspiration. Go Connor!
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