RV Hall of Fame announces 2013 inductees

ELKHART, Ind., February 20, 2013 — 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 Monday, August 5, 2013.

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 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, for more than 50 years he has been 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 household features such as multiple air conditioners, central vacuum systems, ice maker refrigerators and more. He led the concept of factory owned stores by creating factory outlets in major markets around the country.
                         
Lawrence C. Lippert, an RV and MH industry supplier from Lippert Components in Goshen, Indiana.
Beginning his company in 1955 with two employees, he built it into the largest component supplier in the industry. He provides every thing from frames and chassis to roof materials for both homes and RVs. His products have included axles, countertops, mattresses, draperies and furniture. Now a third generation family led company, he is recognized for building a generous corporate citizen employing over 4500 workers in 12 states.

Thomas P. Meyers, a housing manufacturer from Guerdon Industries in Louisville Kentucky. 
For over 50 years he led several housing manufacturers to dynamic and varied growth. Guerdon Industries was the first to enter overseas markets in a significant way with plants and sales in South America, Asia and the Middle East. At its peak, Guerdon was operating 57 plants with 7,000 employees. At Commodore Homes he led 27 factories producing 20,000 floors per year. He founded Meyers and Associates and provided consulting services to manufacturers world wide.

Claude N. Palmer (deceased)a housing retailer from Palmer Homes in Waverly, New York.
Since 1971 he has provided a source of affordable housing to families in south central New York. He has received top retailer recognition from 7 manufacturers. He developed Holly Park Terrace with 99 oversize lots in 1970 and created Custom Modular Homes Company to build upscale state code modular homes. He was the first in his region to offer home/land financing packages.

Mathew Perlot (deceased)an RV manufacturer from Safari Motorhomes in Harrisburg, Oregon.
For more than 25 years he has been recognized as an innovator and leader in the motor home industry. He pioneered the concept of the affordably priced diesel pusher, and the automatic awning. He was honored as RV Executive of the Year in 1994. He took Safari and Beaver public in 1996 and eventually sold to Monaco.

Thomas Walworth, an RV and manufactured housing industry consultant and statistician from Statistical Surveys Inc. in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Under his leadership, his company has become the recognized official scorecard for sales in both the RV and manufactured housing industries in the US and Canada. He has served for over 20 years on the RVIA Market Information Committee. His data has become relied upon for marketing planning by every major company in either industry.

SOURCE: RV/MH Hall of Fame news release and RVtravel.com.