DuPont Press Release
October 25, 2004
05:18 PM EDT (21:18 GMT)
Joe Jackson, director of the DuPont Motorsports program, was among 10 people killed Sunday when an aircraft owned by Hendrick Motorsports, the company's partner in the NASCAR® No. 24 DuPont car, crashed en route to the NASCAR race at Martinsville, Virginia. Also on board were members of the Hendrick family and staff. Jackson was instrumental in the development of the DuPont Motorsports program and routinely represented the company at NASCAR races. His entire 36-year DuPont career was spent in the Automotive Refinish business. The following letter was sent today to DuPont Performance Coatings employees by Ed Donnelly, group vice president -- DuPont Coatings & Color Technologies: "By now, many of you have heard that a Hendrick Motorsports aircraft crashed yesterday near Martinsville, Va., the site of yesterday's NASCAR race. Joe Jackson, a dear member of our DPC family, perished in that crash, along with members of the Hendrick family and staff members. "NASCAR was a passion for Joe. He loved the sport and our role in it. His dedication to our business was apparent to all of us. But more than that, Joe, his DuPont colleagues and the Hendrick team were like family. "Of course, there will be many tributes to Joe, large and small. And aside from the official observances, we will all mourn and celebrate him in our own way. "All of our energies now must be devoted to doing everything humanly possible to support the family of friend and colleague. Joe's wife, Jan, his children, Jane and Jeffrey, and his other loved ones are in our prayers. Their grief is our grief. "We will have information very shortly about how all of us in the DPC family can join in an expression of our love and support for Joe and his family. "For now, though, just remember Joe." | 
