By NANCY WHITAKER

Progress Staff Writer

ANTWERP – Martha Bender of Antwerp was very excited when Paulding County Wildlife Officer Duane Bailey gave her a July copy of the Hot Rod Deluxe magazine. Why was she excited?

The reason was that included in the national magazine was a picture of an old Essex-nosed sports rod that was originally built by her husband, Ray Bender, and his father, Herb, back in 1949.

Bailey said, “I have always been a hot rod lover myself and I usually buy this magazine over the counter. I was reading it one day and saw the picture and description of this old car built here in Antwerp. I thought, ‘Wow! I wonder if any of the Benders are still around?’