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Don J. Lenox "Chicken" 1945-2007

The Soap Box community loses a champion
By CHRIS ENGLISH
Bucks County Courier Times

Thousands of people across the area will never watch kids rolling down a hill in homemade cars without thinking of Don Lenox Sr.
Lenox, director of the Bucks County Soap Box Derby organization for 35 years, died Thursday morning at the University of Pennsylvania hospital after a long battle with multiple myeloma, a form of bone marrow cancer. He was 61.
A lifetime resident of Morrisville, Lenox enriched the lives of countless children and adults with his dedication to soap box derby racing, sense of humor and willingness to help people, said Lenox's close friend Allan Stead of Lower Makefield.
“Derby Don was like a second father to so many, me included,” said Stead, assistant director of Bucks County Soap Box Derby. “This was a great man who impacted so many people throughout the whole country. Hundreds will be devastated by this.”
Lenox was diagnosed with the illness about five years ago, Stead said.
“It's similar to leukemia and had sort of gone away for about three years before coming back,” he said.
Lenox was the driving force behind the annual Bucks County Soap Box Derby race, held every June on Woodbourne Road in Middletown.
“He attended this past year and announced the race like he always did, and then went right into the hospital,” Stead said. “Don raced soap box cars growing up in Morrisville and as an adult just followed right on through. He helped thousands of kids realize the dream he had as a child.”
One of the most enduring qualities about Lenox was his sense of humor, Stead added.
“Don was a card,” he said. “He just enjoyed himself and enjoyed life and had a lot of fun. He was a very outgoing, friendly and public individual.”
Lenox was an electrician at the General Motors plant in Ewing for almost 30 years before retiring several years ago, said his son, Darren. In addition to his passion for Soap Box Derby, Lenox loved the Eagles and the Temple University men's basketball team, and was a member of the Atlantic City Polar Bears Club that takes dives into the icy Atlantic Ocean every New Year's Day, his son added.
Lenox was a member of the Philadelphia Modifieds, a club with a passion for hot rod cars, and was a borough councilman in Morrisville for a brief time several years ago, Darren said.
“He also helped organize the annual Labor Day race in Morrisville,” added Darren, a Chicago resident. “He attended the national soap box derby race in Akron [Ohio] just about every year. Soap Box Derby was such a big part of his life. He built cars and raced as a kid, and my brother [Don II] and I both got into it as kids. My father just loved helping kids build cars and race in Soap Box Derby.”
Stead said Lenox helped organize the first area “Super Kids” Soap Box Derby race, to be held Sept. 22 at Bucks County Community College in Newtown Township. In that race, soap box derby racers will have a special needs child [one with a developmental disability] sitting in the car as a passenger.
“That race won't be about winning, but just about giving those special needs children the thrill of racing downhill in a car,” said Stead. “We're just so sorry Don won't be here to see it.”
A new director of Bucks County Soap Box Derby will be elected by the organization's members at a meeting in October, Stead said.
Don Lenox Sr. is survived by his wife, Nancy. The funeral arrangements have not been finalized, said Darren Lenox.
Chris English can be reached at 215-949-4193 or [email protected].
Donald J. Lenox, age 61, of Morrisville, passed away on August 30, 2007 at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Don was born in Trenton NJ and was the son of the late Elizabeth and John Lenox. He retired from General Motors Inc. in Ewing Township NJ. He was a US Army Veteran, a past Morrisville Borough Councilman, a member of the Philadelphia Modifiers, Atlantic City Polar Bears and the Director of the Bucks County Soap Box Derby for 34 years. He also organized the Morrisville Labor Day Run.
Donald is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Nancy L. Lenox; his sons Donald J. Lenox II and his wife Aigen, and Darren Lenox and his wife Kara; his sisters Betty Sullivan and Pat Kahlenberg, and his brother Tom Lenox; and his “Mom” Dorothy Koons.
Family and friends are invited to attend Don’s life celebration on Tuesday Sept 4 from 4 – 7 PM followed by a Funeral Service at 7 Pm at Beck-Givnish of Lower Bucks, 7400 New falls Rd., Levittown PA 19055. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Don’s memory may be made to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Eastern PA Chapter, #2 International Plaza, Suite 245, Phila. PA 19113 or The Abramson Cancer Center Development Office, 3535 Market St. Phila., PA 19104.

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