RV News Publisher Dan Holt Among Class of 2001 Hall of Fame Inductees

The board of directors of the RV/MH Heritage Foundation announced the election of the class of 2001 for the RV/MH Hall of Fame. Those to be inducted at the 2001 Induction Ceremony to be held in Elkhart, IN, on August 2, 2001 are:

T.M."Mike" Burlingame of Style Crest Products, an industry supplier from Fremont, OH.

He is credited with having developed the Blend Air system for condensation control in heating systems, and is a pioneer in fiberglass ducting systems. He has been active in coordinating industry materials for disaster relief. A past chairman of the Louisville MH Show, he has been active in manufactured housing associations in KS, OK, FL, TX, IN, OH, and CA.

William L."Will" Ehrle of the Texas Manufactured Housing Association in Austin, TX.

A twenty two year association executive, he has served as an attorney, a state representative, state and national lobbyist, and is the author of much industry related legislation for both state and federal laws. He is widely recognized as a valued counsel for associations nationally.

Clyde Grambsch of E-Z Kamper and Camper Recreation Canvas Replacements, an RV manufac-turer and supplier from Loyal, WI.

A charter member of RVI, he served many years on the National Show Committee, and led the RVIA sponsored caravan to the Montreal Expo. He developed the first electrically raised tent trailer roof, and developed slide out kitchens in tent campers.

Curt Hames of Hames Homes, a manufactured housing retailer in Marion, IA.

A long time association leader and past chairman, he served 20 years as legislative chairman. He has been responsible for legislation allowing Sunday sales of homes in Iowa, for allowing movement of 14' wide homes, and for dealer licensing and sales tax reform.

Dan Holt of RV News, an RV trade magazine publisher from Tempe, AZ.

The founder of RV News which he developed as an advocate for RV Dealers, he is also founder of RV Technician Magazine (now owned by RVDA), and founder of what is now the RVDA Expo, and co-founder of RV America On Line. A strong proponent of market expansion, he has received the RVIA Founder Award, RVIA Distinguished Service Award, and WDA Man of the Year.

Charles Meredith of Charlie's Mobile Homes, a manufactured housing and RV retailer from Louisville, KY.

A 50 year industry veteran, he is a founding member of the Kentucky MHA, and was its first president. A founding member and past chairman of RVI/RVDA he served as his state representative to the Federated States Association. He helped the Midwest MH Federation bring the MH Show to Louisville, and successfully lobbied the state of Kentucky for free parking at the MH show and led the lobby to get permits to move 14 foot wide manufactured homes in Kentucky.

Virgil Miller of Newmar Corporation, an RV manufacturer from Nappanee, IN.

He is an eight year board member of the Indiana MHA/RVIC, and two term RV Council chairman. A long time active RVIA board member, he is widely recognized as a steady voice of reason and integrity and for his unfettered promotion of the RV industry and its products.

Jim Moore(deceased) of the Pennsylvania Manufactured Housing and RV associations in New Cumberland PA.

A 25 year state association executive, he developed both the Harrisburg manufactured housing and RV shows. He helped to develop the HUD Code installation procedures and is recognized as a mentor to many other state association leaders.

Joe and Kay Peterson of the Escapees, RV association leaders and campground operators in Livingston, TX.

Founders of Escapees, a national full time RVers association, they are long-time RV consumer educational seminar speakers nationally, and are owner/developers of 18 RV parks in eleven states. They are authors of numerous self-help books on the RV lifestyle and have developed a mail forwarding service for full-time RVers.

Bill Pierce(deceased) of Pierce Homes and Pierce RVs, a MH and RV retailer from Billings, MT.

A 28 year member of the Montana MH & RV Association, he served four separate terms as its president. He developed a key public relations campaign to promote the manufactured housing industry in Montana, and was key to passing the law to eliminate zoning restrictions on manufactured homes. He developed the guidelines for promoting MH shows statewide.

John Ritzenthaler of Ritz-Craft Corporation, a MH/RV manufacturer in Pennsylvania and Indiana.

A pioneer manufacturer, he was the first to use molded fiberglass fronts on his RV units in 1957. An early doublewide home manufacturer, in the 50s and early 60s, he built regional facilities throughout the nation to build specific designs for local needs and codes. He was active in associations in IN, FL, NE, NC, TX and others.

The RV/MH Hall of Fame, founded in 1972, honors industry leaders who have left a considerable and lasting mark on the portion of the industry in which they are involved. The class of 2001 brings the number of honorees in the industry's Hall of Fame to 219.

RVN