Alexander Mikhailovich Safonov (29 October 1912, Vladimir — 9 February 1988, Gorky) was a figure of the Soviet automobile industry, Hero of Socialist Labour (1971) and laureate of the Stalin Prize (1951). He worked at the Gorky Automobile Plant for more than half a century, rising from electrical technician to first deputy general director of the GAZ production association.[1][2]

Career at the plant

He was born into the family of an office worker. In 1932 he graduated from the Vladimir Mechanical Technical School as an electrical technician and was assigned to the newly built Gorky Automobile Plant.[2] At the plant he began by installing and commissioning the equipment of the press shop supplied by American firms, then held in turn the posts of foreman of the chassis shop, senior electrician, shift assistant to the shop head, head of the electrical repair shop, head of the chassis shop, and head of machine assembly shops No. 2 and No. 4.[3][2]

During the Great Patriotic War Safonov stayed at the plant. In 1944 he received the Order of the Red Star for clearing the consequences of enemy air raids ahead of schedule, mastering production of new types of military equipment and exemplary supply of the front.[2][4]

As head of machine assembly shop No. 2 he took an active part in launching production of the ZIM (GAZ-12) executive car. In 1951 he was awarded the Stalin Prize of the second degree for designing and mastering its production.[2] In 1954 he was appointed head of production at the plant, a post he held until 1964. Under his direct involvement and leadership virtually every model of car produced by the plant in those years was put into production.[4]

From 1964 to 1974 he was deputy director for production. From 28 February 1974 to 3 June 1981 he served as deputy general director of the GAZ production association for production, and from 3 June 1981 to 18 February 1986 as first deputy general director of GAZ.[2]

Awards and titles

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of 5 April 1971 Safonov was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labour with the Hammer and Sickle gold medal (No. 16372) and the Order of Lenin (No. 411116) — for outstanding success in fulfilling the tasks of the eighth five-year plan (1966–1970) and achieving high technical and economic results.[2]

His full list of state awards: three Orders of Lenin (9 January 1952, 22 August 1966, 5 April 1971), three Orders of the Red Banner of Labour (16 September 1945, 27 September 1976, 18 May 1982), the Order of the Red Star (9 March 1944), the medal "For Labour Valour" (29 December 1941) and a number of other medals.[3][2] In 1978 he was given the title "Distinguished Worker of the Automobile Plant".[1] He was repeatedly elected a deputy of the Gorky City Soviet and a member of the Avtozavodsky district committee of the Communist Party.[2]

Remembrance

He lived in Gorky (now Nizhny Novgorod) and died on 9 February 1988. He is buried at the Old Avtozavod Cemetery in Nizhny Novgorod.[2] Biographical material about Safonov appeared in the book "Labour and Feat Write History" (Gorky, 1981) and in the "Vladimir Encyclopaedia" (2002).[4]

Sources

  1. lib-avt.ru — Alexander Mikhailovich Safonov — Centralized Library System of the Avtozavodsky District of Nizhny Novgorod (archived)
  2. warheroes.ru — Hero of Socialist Labour Alexander Mikhailovich Safonov — Heroes of the Country (archived)
  3. names52.ru — Alexander Mikhailovich Safonov (archived)
  4. land.lib33.ru — Alexander Mikhailovich Safonov (archived)