Roy D. Chapin first worked for Ransom E. Olds as a photographer and gear filer. While still in Olds’ employ, he drove a 1901 curved-dash model to New York for the second annual National Auto Show. He left Olds in 1906 to organize, along with Howard E. Coffin, the Thomas-Detroit Company, later Chalmers-Detroit Company. In 1909, again with H. E. Coffin, Chapin with the backing of J. L. Hudson left Chalmers-Detroit to organize and head the Hudson Motor Car Company. He backed the movement for good roads as chairman of numerous highway institutions. Chapin served as Secretary of Commerce under President Herbert Hoover in 1932.