MENU
SEARCHWilliam F. "Bill" Purschke, the retired East regional manager for General Motors fleet sales, passed away on May 18 at his home in Baiting Hollow on Long Island, New York. He was 85.
William F. "Bill" Purschke, the retired East regional manager for General Motors fleet sales, passed away on May 18 at his home in Baiting Hollow on Long Island, New York. He was 85.
He spent 43 years with General Motors, including 35 years with Oldsmobile, before retiring in 1994.
Purschke spent almost his entire career in New York City, except for a two-week stint when he was promoted to the sales promotion department in Lansing, Mich. He turned down the sales promotion position and returned to New York City, after telling his wife that "this is not the place for us."
William Purschke, former East regional manager for GM's fleet unit
Photo courtesy of Jack Griffin.
Following his return to New York City, Purschke returned to his role in car distribution. Shortly afterward, he became the New York fleet manager for Oldsmobile. Purschke arranged the sale of 8,650 Oldsmobile 98 sedans in one deal with Mark Rosenstock, who owned the Bronx-based Dale Oldsmobile, which was at the time the largest Oldsmobile dealer in the country.
He also played a role in helping consolidate GM's car and truck fleet divisions into what became known as Consolidated Fleet Operations. Purschke then became regional manager for the East region until his retirement.
Purschke is survived by his wife, Betty; sons William, Daniel, and Joseph; and eight grandchildren.
In this AF news recap, host Faith Howell covers how Waffle House stepped up during disaster response and new AI tech on the market.
Read More →
AI is no longer a future concept for fleets—it’s already embedded in the tools, data, and decisions that operators rely on every day. In this episode of the Fleet Forward Podcast, recorded live at Fleet Forward, industry leaders take the conversation beyond hype to examine what responsible AI adoption really looks like in fleet operations.
Read More →
As fleets rethink how they capture, manage, and act on vehicle data, telematics is at a major inflection point. In this episode of the Fleet Forward Podcast, we dive deep into one of the most pressing questions facing fleet leaders today: Should you rely on OEM factory-installed connectivity, aftermarket devices, or a hybrid of both?
Read More →
Experts from telematics analytics, fleet-as-a-service operations, and national EV benchmarking share how real-time data is reshaping fleet strategy—dispelling assumptions, validating best practices, and exposing costly missteps.
Read More →
A powerhouse panel featuring experts from the American Automotive Leasing Association, CalSTART, and municipal fleet leadership dives into the realities of navigating shifting emissions rules, regulatory waivers, federal agency actions, the future of the EPA’s endangerment finding, and the push for unified standards. They also examine the impacts of tariffs, autonomous vehicle policy, battery innovation, and the accelerating global EV market.
Read More →
This episode kicks off with a deep dive into the technologies and market forces reshaping today’s fleet landscape. Host Chris Brown is joined by Laolu Adeola (Leke Services), Tyson Jomini (J.D. Power), and Richard Hall (ZappiRide) to break down real-world data, shifting incentives, and practical strategies fleet leaders can use right now.
Read More →
In the middle of natural disasters fleet managers must shift priorities to protect people and assets. What policy items should be loosened, and when should the line be held?
Read More →
In this episode, fleet leaders from municipal, university, and private-sector organizations share a candid EV reality check. From infrastructure setbacks and policy whiplash to grant funding, total cost of ownership, and charging resiliency, this conversation dives into what it actually takes to scale electrification in the real world.
Read More →
A running list of the fleet industry’s most influential leaders, recognized for their lasting impact on commercial fleet management.
Read More →
After a decade of lagging compensation, fleet manager pay is climbing. But expanding responsibilities, larger fleets, and growing complexity continue to redefine the role.
Read More →
