I had the pleasure of being the Fender Musical Instruments district sales manager based in Texas from 1980 through 2007. One of the highlights of that career was meeting Maria Elena Holly to present her with one of the first 1957 reissues of the sunburst Stratocaster like the one that her late husband immortalized. Maria was a very gracious lady who lived not far from where I lived in the Dallas area. She invited my wife and me to a soiree that she hosted to commemorate an event in Buddy's life and short-lived career. I thought that I had lost this photo until I found it this morning. We stayed in touch for several years after this event.
Fender was manufacturing Rogers drums in California for the first several years of my career with the company.