Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/112125
Class of 2013 RV/MH Hall of Fame Inductees Announced The board of directors of the RV/MH Heritage Foundation (Foundation) has announced the names of those who will be inducted into the RV/MH Hall of Fame (Hall) as the Class of 2013. The induction ceremonies will be held at the RV/MH Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Indiana, during the annual induction dinner on August 5. Darryl Searer, president of the Foundation, said, ���It is my great pleasure to welcome these new inductees who will join the honored rolls of industry leaders, pioneers and innovators who have made significant contributions the to RV and manufactured housing industries. I join their friends, family and colleagues in congratulating the following honorees.��� Craig M. Bollman, a housing community developer/operator from Mobile Home Communities in Littleton, Colorado. Beginning in the 1960s, he built his community into the first publicly traded land-lease community in the nation. For many years, he was the largest owner of manufactured home communities in the USA. He has served as the housing industry���s representative to the Small Business Administration Theresa M. Desfosses, a housing industry veteran of retail, communities, and manufacturing from State Manufactured Homes in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. Since 1968 she has led her company in retail sales of both HUD code and modular homes and the development and management of communities providing over 600 home sites in Maine and New Hampshire. As President of Burlington Homes, a HUD code manufacturer, she is the only woman to be the active leader simultaneously in all three divisions (retail, community and manufacturing). She is a founding member of the Maine MHA and a board member of the Manufactured Association for Regulatory Reform Kirwan Elmers, an RV Bus converter from Custom Coach in Columbus, Ohio. Beginning with his father in 1955, he has been for over 50 years, a major innovator in the creation of luxury RVs from bus shells. Among the innovations he helped to engineer are, the first automatic transmission in an intercity bus shell (1956), first backup camera in a motor coach (1965), first cruise control in a motorcoach (1967) and the first quick change lounge area that automatically converted to a bedroom(1986). He served ten years as President of the FMCA Commercial Council C.M. Fore (deceased) an RV manufacturer from Foretravel, Inc. in Nacadoches, Texas. Since founding his company in 1967, he has been a leader in the evolution of luxury Type A motorhomes. He was among the first to use diesel engines in motorhomes, and among the first to build pusher chassis. He built the first uni-body motorhomes and pioneered the use of many house- hold features such as multiple air conditioners, tor and leader in the motor home industry. He picentral vacuum systems, ice maker refrigerators and oneered the concept of the affordably priced diesel more. He led the concept of factory owned stores pusher, and the automatic awning. He was honby creating factory outlets in major markets around ored as RV Executive of the Year in 1994.He took Safari and Beaver public in 1996 and eventually the country. Lawrence C. Lippert an RV and MH industry sold to Monaco. Thomas Walworth an RV and manufactured supplier from Lippert Components in Goshen, Indiana. Beginning his company in 1955 with two housing industry consultant and statistician from employees, he built it into the largest component Statistical Surveys Inc. in Grand Rapids, Michisupplier in the industry. He provides every thing gan. Under his leadership, his company has befrom frames and chassis to roof materials for both come the recognized official scorecard for sales in homes and RVs. His products have included axles, both the RV and manufactured housing industries countertops, mattresses, draperies and furniture. in the US and Canada. He has served for over 20 Now a third generation family led company, he is years on the RVIA Market Information Commitrecognized for building a generous corporate citizen tee. His data has become relied upon for marketing planning by every major company in either employing over 4500 workers in 12 states. Thomas P. Meyers a housing manufacturer industry. The Foundation���s board of directors recently apfrom Guerdon Industries in Louisville Kentucky. For over 50 years he led several housing manufac- proved a major change in the Foundation���s bylaws turers to dynamic and varied growth. Guerdon In- that simplifies the procedure and criteria for nomidustries was the first to enter overseas markets in a nations to the RV/MH Hall of Fame. Searer said, significant way with plants and sales in South ���For those who would like to nominate future canAmerica, Asia and the Middle East. At its peak, didates for the Hall of Fame, we invite you to visit Guerdon was operating 57 plants with 7,000 em- our web site at www.rvmhhalloffame.org/ ployees. At Commodore Homes he led 27 facto- pages/nominations.cfm to view the Nomination ries producing 20,000 floors per year. He founded Guidelines and to download the necessary nominaMeyers and Associates and provided consulting tion forms. services to manufacturers world wide. Claude N. Palmer (deceased) a housing retailer from Palmer Homes in Waverly, Seamless Rock Skirting System New York.Since 1971 he has provided a source Now available in of affordable housing to ��� Brown & Gray families in south central ��� 32", 36", 48" heights New York. He has re��� easy installation ceived top retailer recognition from 7 Accessories include: manufacturers. He deVent Inserts... veloped Holly Park Terthat open & close race with 99 oversize lots in 1970 and created Access Doors... Custom Modular Homes adjustable heights Company to build upscale state code modular homes. He was the first in his region to offer home/land financing packages. Mathew Perlot (deReil Rock ... "The Reil Thing" ceased) an RV manufacturer from Safari REIL ROCK PRODUCTS, INC. Motorhomes in Harris11 Reil Rock Industrial Blvd. Eufaula, OK 74432 burg, Oregon.For over 25 years he has been Pat. No. 4,944,124 Pat. No. 4,656,722 recognized as an innova- Reil Rock 800-242-3005 No. 15 on Get It Quick Page MARCH 2013 23 THE JOURNAL