The aesthetics, dignity and fine craftsmanship distinguishing American funeral vehicles, limousines and ambulances will be showcased “Texas Style” when the Professional Car Society heads to Houston for its 39th Annual International Meet from June 9th-13th, 2015.   Prior to Saturday’s Concours at the National Museum of Funeral History, attendees of the “Lone Star Pro-Car Round-Up” will get to tour the Old Town Spring historic railroad village; Frazer Limited’s ambulance factory; the Art Deco 1940 Air Terminal Museum at Hobby Airport; the Texas Prison Museum in Huntsville; and the San Jacinto Battleground where Sam Houston’s volunteers avenged the Alamo and won their independence from Mexico in 1836. 

The itinerary and activity fees are fully-detailed at www.pcsmeet.com, which also offers a dedicated link for reserving specially-discounted, $105 pre-tax nightly rooms at the Hyatt North Houston headquarters hotel that’s situated in convenient proximity to George Bush Intercontinental Airport at 425 North Sam Houston Pkwy East (mention the Professional Car Society if calling 800-233-1234 instead).   General meet questions can also be addressed to local coordinator Robert L. Koryciak at (281) 382-9800 or rlkoryciak@sbcglobal.net.

“I am extremely proud of the collaboration we’ve established with the National Museum of Funeral History in hosting this meet,” PCS President Tony Karsnia declares, “especially as it’s a destination of natural interest to the many funeral and EMS professionals in our membership ranks.   Museum President Genevieve Keeney and her staff have been enthusiastic champions of the idea that a big outdoor gathering of our pro-cars will be a great way to draw Houstonians’ attention to the unique, fascinating exhibits inside the building,” which include horse-drawn and motorized hearses; fancifully-carved caskets from Africa; Papal and Presidential funeral memorabilia; and audio-visual displays exploring the mourning rituals of ancient civilizations. 

 The Museum’s easily-accessed location, at 415 Barren Springs Drive just off northbound Exit 63 or southbound Exit 64 of the I-45 North Freeway, should facilitate public scrutiny of the PCS’ ambulances and hearses, which must be displayed empty without coffins, cobwebs, skeletons or other morbid miscellany that would distract from the skilled handiwork of such esteemed specialist coachbuilders as Eureka, Flxible, Henney, Pinner, Siebert, Sayers & Scovill, Miller-Meteor, Cotner/Bevington and Superior.  “As this is the first time a PCS International has been held in Texas and the scheduling is two months earlier than usual,” President Karsnia adds, he’s “looking forward to meeting PCS members who might never have attended our biggest annual event before.   We expect, as a result, they’ll show many cars our regulars will be seeing for the first time.”