Called “the John Wayne of the automobile business” by Time magazine, executive Lido Anthony Iacocca (1924–2019) was born on this day in Allentown, Pennsylvania, the proud son of Italian immigrants who taught him perseverance, faith, and the value of hard work.

An innovator with vision and heart, Iacocca began his career at Ford Motors, where he helped bring the “sporty but affordable” Mustang to life, a car that became a symbol of freedom and American optimism. Later, as President and CEO of Chrysler, he inspired an entire workforce to believe again, proving that resilience can transform an industry.

“We are continually faced by great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems,” he once said, words that echo the courage of someone who never stopped believing in human ingenuity.

When Chrysler faced bankruptcy, Iacocca led with humility and conviction. He met with union leaders, offered them the truth, and cut his own salary to one dollar a year. His courage motivated others. Frank Sinatra sang for a dollar, Bill Cosby entertained for free, and thousands of employees followed his lead with renewed purpose.

Even into the 21st century, Iacocca kept looking forward. A champion for clean energy, he turned his passion toward the electric-vehicle revolution, helping spark innovation in e-bikes and sustainable transportation, proving that true motivation doesn’t end, it evolves.