Willie G. Davidson chosen to receive 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award

Willie G. Davidson, Senior Vice President and Chief Styling Officer at Harley-Davidson Motor Company, has been chosen to receive this year's EyesOn Design Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology.

Regarded as the most prestigious award in automotive design, each year's EyesOn Design Lifetime Achievement Award winner is chosen by the industry's top designers and award winners from previous years. Designers that have been honored in the past include Sergio Pininfarina, Harley Earl, Nuccio Bertone, Raymond Loewy, Bruno Sacco, Giorgetto Giugiaro, Tom Gale, Chuck Pelly, Chuck Jordan, Jack Telnack and Marcello Gandini.

The grandson of one of the original founders of Harley-Davidson, Davidson studied graphic art in Wisconsin before attending Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, California. Upon graduating from Art Center, Davidson worked at Brook Stevens Associates - designing a range of products including furniture and outboard motors - and was also employed by major automakers including Ford. Heavily influenced by the custom motorcycle scene in California, Davidson began to design custom motorcycles as a hobby.

In 1963, Davidson was asked to join the design department at Harley-Davidson leading to the design of several of the motorcycle company's most admired motorcycles, including the Super Glide, Low Rider and Fat Boy. His artistic vision and passion for riding have made him a legend among throngs of enthusiasts worldwide who consider him the patriarch of motorcycling.

Davidson will accept the award during the EyesOn Design 2009 weekend events taking place in Detroit, June 19-21 2009.

By Eric Gallina