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November 28, 2005

American Rental Association Kicks off 50th Anniversary

The American Rental Association (with member in all Canadian provinces) kicked off its 50th Anniversary celebration by hosting a homecoming weekend for its past presidents and board members, plus area members at its newly renovated ARA headquarters in Moline, Ill., earlier this month.  More than 130 guests from 23 states and four Canadian provinces gathered to honor the past, share stories, relive memories and enjoy kinship with industry colleagues and friends. Among the guests were 16 ARA past presidents, including the association’s first president and its oldest living past president, and the families of four 50-year ARA member rental stores.

ARA President Allen Morehead, Lancaster, Penn., (L) greets George Morris, Nashville, Tenn., ARA president in 1980.

Looking at the list of ARA’s 43 past presidents are Marlyn and Leonard Hawk, East Moline, Ill., (L) and Enid Hoffman and Kevin Hoffman, Madison, Wis. Enid’s late husband, Rex, and Leonard Hawk were two of the 21original founding members of the American Rental Association.

George Morris, Nashville, Tenn., shares memories from his tenure as ARA’s president in 1980 during ARA’s homecoming celebration.

Skip Evans, Castle Rock, Colo., ARA President in 1996, shares a story from his presidency during the ARA homecoming banquet.

Leonard Hawk, East Moline, Ill., ARA president 1955-58 (L); George Morris, Nashville, Tenn., ARA president 1980 (M); and Carl Hoerman, St. Charles, Mo., ARA president 1993 (R)