Remembering Joshua Blick: ‘One person can make a difference in a city of 400,000’

If you never had the delight of meeting Joshua Blick, then Wichita City Council member Dalton Glasscock can sum him up for you in three short ways.

He was “always happy, always around people, and he was always smiling.”

Blick, 48, died after being ejected from a car in an accident late Friday night near 47th South and West Street. Driver Joe Davidson also was ejected and died. A third occupant of the car survived.

Through family friend James Clendenin, Blick’s widow, Candace, made this statement:

“Thank you all for the overwhelming love, support, and kind messages during this difficult time. They have meant more to me than I can express and have helped greatly as I navigate this season of grief. Hearing the many stories of how my husband touched your lives in the short time he has been on this earth, whether it was only a few minutes or years, has been incredibly comforting.”

In addition to his wife, Blick is survived by his adult children, Pierson Blick and Abbagail Schmitt, son-in-law Andrew Schmitt, grandson Rhett Schmitt and another grandchild who is expected in 2026.

There are a multitude of stories of how Blick, a Wichita native who grew up in the Osawatomie area, served his community despite running and not succeeding in City Council and school board elections.

Glasscock said “he had far more influence outside of office.”

“He found a niche where he could just get people to come together.”

Blick may be best known for buying the Automobilia car show in 2017.

He also was particularly active in his southwest Wichita neighborhood association, serving as president for more than two decades.

Blick also was on the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission and volunteered with Convoy of Hope and Bethel Life Center.

The one-time Wichita Tire Store owner most recently worked for Utah-based Snap Finance.

Politician and consultant Michael O’Donnell first met Blick when they ran against each other for Council. They went on to become friends — the only time that happened with one of his opponents, O’Donnell said.

“He was such an honorable man. . . . I knew if I lost, south Wichita would still win with Josh Blick.”

A lot of times when people die, others say nice things about them even if it’s not deserved. With Blick, O’Donnell said, people said wonderful things about him even when he was alive.

“He really made a difference. If we had 100 Josh Blicks, we’d be the best city in America.”

‘All in’

State Rep. Nick Hoheisel basically lives at 47th South and West Street and said he “can almost see the accident site from my kitchen window.”

Though he doesn’t know all the details of what happened, he said, “There is a very, very tough curve in there,” and there’s road construction in the area as well.

Referring to both Blick and Davidson, Hoheisel said “one accident taking that much out of our community” is a huge loss.

“I hope our community comes together to fill those shoes.”

Several years ago, Blick approached Hoheisel about a bill to reform rules around antique license plates.

Before the bill’s successful passage in 2020, the license plates weren’t given to older cars that had been modified in any way, such as ones retrofitted with seatbelts.

Hoheisel said he’s not sure how Blick, whom he described as “full of positive energy,” had the time to accomplish everything he did.

Clendenin said his friend didn’t sleep.

“Josh was just all in.”

He said that was for friends, his neighborhood, his city and “even people he didn’t know.”

“His whole goal was just to make a lasting impact in people’s lives, and he did it so unselfishly.”

Clendenin said he’d counsel Blick to take time for himself, but he said, “People made him tick.”

Through tears, Clendenin also discussed Blick’s loyalty.

“Josh stuck by me through thick and thin when . . . practically nobody else would.”

When people weren’t kind to Blick, Clendenin said, Blick would say, “I’m going to kill them with kindness.”

As Blick’s friend Josh Shorter grew emotional while discussing him, he said, “I’m smiling while I’m crying.”

That’s because Blick “was the happiest person.”

“Always a smile. Always laughing. Positive. Trying to do anything he could to help out someone else.”

Shorter said that’s why Blick was interested in politics and finding other ways to serve, particularly in south Wichita, which he thought sometimes got left behind.

“He wanted to make sure that the people were represented. . . . He wanted to give a voice.”

O’Donnell said his one comfort in the tragedy of the accident is “there’s zero doubt that Josh Blick is in Heaven today.”

“Josh didn’t have to tell people he was a Christian. You knew he was a Christian. . . . He’s a model that we all should live for.”

O’Donnell said he’s continued to learn things about Blick through the outpouring of comments about him on social media since his death.

“Wow,” he said, “one person can make a difference in a city of 400,000 people.”

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Bethel Life Center at 3777 S. Meridian.