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Industry Beat Industry Mourns Two AED Past Presidents Robert O. Mullins died Monday, Dec. 16 in Dallas, Texas. Known to his family and throughout the industry as "Bob," he founded ROMCO Equipment Co. in 1961. Looking back on ROMCO's recent 50th Anniversary, Bob talked about his pride in the company's people and in the relationships that had been forged over time with key suppliers and customers. Under Mullins' leadership, ROMCO grew from a one-man, one-location startup to a 10-branch dealership serving a territory that includes three of the U.S.' Top-10 cities by population. As a member of AED since 1970, Bob was a long-time, dedicated supporter of the association and the equipment industry. He served as an AED director in the early 1990s and became AED President (now called Chairman) in 1996. Bob served on the board of The AED Foundation from 2003 through 2005. He was a long-standing supporter of AED's Political Action Committee and a member of the AED PAC Capitol Club. In 2000 he received the AED Democracy Award for his work building the association's Government Affairs program and encouraging equipment industry participation in the political process. Mullins was recognized at the 2008 AED Summit with the association's highest honor: The AED Distinguished Industry/Association Service Award. Bob also distinguished himself through service to his community. His favorite organization, the Salesmanship Club of Dallas, is an almost 100-year old group of business professionals dedicated to making a difference in the lives of at-risk kids and their families. Over the last 43 years, he served in various fund-raising and organizing capacities, culminating with a term as president of the organization in 1986. M. David Giardino, 81, died Wednesday, Nov. 27 in Naples Fla. His wife and daughter were by his side. Following graduation from Princeton University in 1953, he reported for training at the U.S. Naval Base in Newport, R.I., where he received a commission as Ensign in the Civil Engineer Corps of the U.S. Navy. He served five years active duty in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Stockton, Calif, during the Korean War and held one of the highest security clearances given during that time. Upon his return to the East Coast in 1958, Giardino began a varied career as a business entrepreneur. He joined HJ Zoubek Company, which he eventually purchased in 1962 and renamed Equipco Sales and Rental Corp. The firm grew from a light equipment distributor to become one of the most significant heavy equipment/crane distributors in the New Jersey/New York metro market. His future son-in-law James Mackinson joined Equipco in 1981 followed by his daughter soon thereafter. Giardino became chairman in the late 1980s. In the late 1960s he also started and eventually sold a company that manufactured concrete pumping equipment. He shared several patents for equipment used to pump concrete and grout. During the early 1970s, Dave entered into the machinery export business with dealings in England, Belgium, South America, the Mid-East and Africa as well as the Pacific Rim. Giardino served his industry in numerous capacities including as president of the New Jersey Equipment Distributors Association, as well as an AED board member and, in 1988, as AED President. He also chaired the New Jersey Product Liability Task Force. 18 | www.cedmag.com | Construction Equipment Distribution | January 2014