We have just received confirmation that Tommy Springman, a legendary figure in Winnipeg's taxi history, has passed away after a lengthy illness at age 76.
According to sources, Springman was released from St. Boniface Hospital after a 10 day stay yesterday. He returned to his home, but had a heart attack at 1.30 AM today, and emergency treatment at Seven Oaks Hospital failed.
Springman was a third-generation resident of the small prairie community of Edenbridge, Saskatchewan, established on the Carrot River by Jewish emigree's in 1908. At a 100th anniversary reunion just last month, the Canadian Jewish News reported Springman "recalled families working hard under harsh conditions. “It was a time and a place where honesty and integrity were important,” he said. Springman left Edenbridge in 1953 and moved to Winnipeg to pursue a teaching career."
Springman was a respected school principal at Andrew Mynarski School in the Seven Oaks School Division for many years, who came to own 8 cabs, a moonlighting and investment practice common among educators, railway employees and the like in the 50's and 60's. He was at the centre of a controversial termination of a teacher for extending a Christmas trip to India and missing 10 days of school in 1985-86, a decision upheld by the Arbitration Board.
Wielding more influence within Duffy's Taxi and semi-retired from the school system, he bought the 9 cab Star Taxi outfit from Sam Levi around 1989. When Duffy's wanted to charge him $20,000 per car to allow him to transfer them into Duffy's brand cabs, he opted to go on his own.
Changing the name to Spring Taxi while retaining the star logo, and maintaining the garage at 880 Logan Ave., he built a fleet of 18 licences with 22 additional cab owners eventually signing on to use his dispatch system, making his service the third largest in the local industry. He sold the company to Tejal "Paul" Atwal for a reported $2 million late last year.
"He was the last of the old-time taxi owners", said former taxicab owner Phil Walding. "He owned about 30 plates at one point and was known for his shrewd business acumen."
Springman was outspoken at Manitoba Taxicab Board hearings, particularly when the Board fielded applications in 1992 for more plates to resolve "complaints" of slow service.
Launching into spellbinding oratories about the complexities of dispatch issues such as a shortage of cars in the immediate area of callers and the spike in demand during winter storms and holidays, he derided such applications as being based on "the myth of instant service", and maintained that 15 minutes was a reasonable wait time in Winnipeg when compared to other major centres.
"Tommy was a leader in demanding the issuance of licences for accessible vans for the disabled, and many of the customers prefered us over anybody because Tommy emphasized service", said Trevor Dion, a veteran dispatcher and driver.
"He was not only a leader in the business community but he emphasized driver safety issues, such as adding security cameras to bolster the use of taxi shields. Tommy was a father figure to so many of us".
Funeral services are Tuesday, 10.30 AM, at the Eitz Chaim Synagogue, 123 Matheson Avenue (east of Main St.)
(My personal condolences to his family who are longtime friends and sports teammates, going back to elementary school and from my years in the taxicab industry. - Marty)
