Hi Robert,
The only Joe Dignan I ever knew ran a small bike shop on North High Street in Columbus, Ohio in the late 1940s. My father bought my first track bike, a Seiber, from Joe. I used Joe's shop as my daily training ride midway rest stop. I'd ride the 12 miles to Joe's, play his shop pinball machine, buy two Cokes with the money I won on the machine, talk with Joe about bike racing and then ride the 12 miles home. I seem to remember that Joe sponsored the rider who then held the transcontinental roundtrip bicycling speed record. I don't remember the rider's name, but I would recognize it if I heard it. I know this is absolutely no help, but I enjoyed telling it.
Time to ride out by the Bay.
Cheers,
Mark Fulton
Redwood City
California
USA