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With profound sadness and deep gratitude, the Gary Alumni Pathway to Students (GAPS) family mourns the passing of our founder, mentor, visionary, and friend, Carlton L. Guthrie.

Mr. Guthrie was more than a successful executive. He was a trailblazer, a bridge-builder, and a man deeply committed to ensuring that future generations had access to opportunities that could change the trajectory of their lives.

Born on September 15, 1952, in Atlanta, Georgia, and raised in Gary, Indiana, Carlton Guthrie represented excellence from an early age. A proud 1970 Valedictorian of West Side High School, he went on to graduate from Harvard University with a degree in Economics and later attended Harvard Business School, building the foundation for a remarkable career in business leadership and corporate innovation.

As Co-Chairman and President of Detroit Chassis LLC and its parent company SPECTRA LLC, Mr. Guthrie became a nationally respected leader in the automotive industry. Throughout his career, he also served in executive leadership roles, including President, CEO, and Chairman connected to Trumark, Inc. and other manufacturing enterprises, helping shape opportunities for minorities in corporate America and opening doors in industries where representation often remained limited.

Yet despite his extraordinary professional accomplishments, Mr. Guthrie never lost sight of where he came from.

He believed deeply in Gary, Indiana. He believed deeply in young people.

And he believed deeply that success meant reaching back and lifting others as you climbed. That belief became the foundation of Gary Alumni Pathway to Students (GAPS).

Long before “college and career readiness” became a national movement, Mr. Guthrie understood the importance of relationships, exposure, preparation, and community investment. He believed students deserved to see successful people who looked like them, came from neighborhoods like theirs, and could help guide them toward greater possibilities.

Because of his vision:

• Students gained mentors

• Scholarships were created

• Career pathways were introduced

• Alumni became engaged

• Community partnerships were strengthened

• Young people were reminded that greatness could come from Gary

His impact reached far beyond programs and events. He helped build confidence, hope, direction, and belief in generations of students and families.

Mr. Guthrie’s remarkable journey was documented nationally through The HistoryMakers, preserving his story as part of America’s historical narrative of Black excellence, leadership, and achievement.

He was also recognized through the Change Makers Museum in Washington, D.C., honored through The Greatness of Gary initiative in October 2025, and featured in interviews and publications highlighting his influence in business, leadership, mentorship, and community advancement.

Mr. Guthrie also dedicated his time and leadership to civic and faith-based organizations, including service with The Joyce Foundation and Concerned Christian Men.

Today, the work of GAPS continues because of the seeds he planted and the vision he carried long before many others saw what was possible.

As we grieve this tremendous loss, we also celebrate a life defined by purpose, excellence, faith, leadership, generosity, and service.

The GAPS family extends our deepest condolences and prayers to the Guthrie family, his friends, colleagues, mentees, and all who were blessed to know him.

We honor him. We thank him. And we will continue the work.

Forever a trailblazer.

Forever a Change Maker.

Forever part of the GAPS story.