More than 90 years after John North Willys came to Toledo, there is confusion about how to pronounce his name.

“I talked to many people, now deceased, including his private secretary, and all said emphatically that he pronounced it `Willis,' said Ron Szymanski, local Jeep historian. “I can attest to the fact that Willys' relatives all say `Willis.'”

However, Mr. Szymanski acknowledged that many Jeep workers pronounce the name “Willies.”

The Internet has numerous references to both pronunciations, and even a web site devoted to the controversy.

Adding to the confusion is that millions of GIs saw World War II Jeeps stamped WILLYS, and they came home with their own opinions as to the pronunciation.

In 1952, as Willys-Overland Motors was preparing for the 50th anniversary of the first Overland cars, The Blade declared: “It's `Willis.'” A number of reporters and editors at the time had known Mr. Willys personally.

The current owner of the famed Willys automotive nameplate, DaimlerChrysler, is no help - even though the automaker may put the Willys name on some future versions of the Jeep.

“When we came out with the Willys [concept vehicle], we pronounced it `Willis,' like Bruce,” said Sjoerd Dijkstra, a Chrysler spokesman.

“We got a lot of flak, so we changed it to [sound like] `Willies,' even though John North Willys probably did pronounce it `Willis.' We use `Willies' now, the common way, so we don't have to explain how [the auto pioneer] pronounced it.”

John Conde, an auto historian in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (and former Jeep public relation executive), said Mr. Willys “was probably the type who would say, `I don't care how you pronounce it as long as you buy my cars.'”

- HOMER BRICKEY

First Published February 2, 2002, 3:20 p.m.