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ELKHART -- The RV/MH Heritage Foundation today announced the 40th anniversary class to be inducted into the RV/MH Hall of Fame. 

Since its beginning in 1972, the hall of fame has honored more than  350 leaders of the recreational vehicle and manufactured housing with induction into the RV/MH Hall of Fame in recognition to their significant and lasting contributions to the greater good of their segment of the industries. 

Those to be inducted at a ceremony Aug. 6 in Elkhart are:

• Michael R. Evans of Aberdeen, S.D, founder and developer of Centennial Homes, a housing retailer with locations in three states serving customers in 10 states by providing affordable housing to more than 12,000 families.  He has served 20 years on the board of the South Dakota Housing Association.
• Doug Gorman of Tulsa, Okla. Founder and owner of Home-Mart, he was a charter member of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Consensus Committee and served as the only housing retailer on the committee.  He is past-chairman of the MHI Federated States Division representing retailers and community operators and has been recognized nine times as MHI Retail Center of the Year.
• Emily and Nelson Jackson (both deceased) of Myrtle Beach, S.C. Beginning in the early 1970s, the Jackson's built Ocean Lakes Family RV Park into a community which now provides sites for 3,449 RVs.  They were recognized as national RV Park of the Year in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2008 and 2009.  In 2005 they were honored by the South Carolina Governor for their efforts in promoting tourism in the state. 
• Edith Lane (deceased) of Deming, N.M.  Founder, in 1969, and leader of the national Loners on Wheels Club for single RV travelers that now has chapters throughout the United States and Canada.  She developed three RV parks targeting single RVers and a longtime columnist on the RV lifestyle in national consumer magazines.
• Gerald “Jiggs” Meuret of Wausau, Wisc  While growing his company, Housing Mart of Wausau, he served 32 years on the board of directors of the Wisconsin Housing Alliance including terms as chairman in 1981, 1983, 1984 and in 1990.  As the only three-term chairman of his association, he developed such credibility that 100 percent of the producers in his state became members.  He has been a firm advocate of customer service while providing thousands of families with homes.
• Bob Olson, of Forest City, Iowa. The former chairman and CEO of Winnebago Industries, Olson is a veteran member of the RV Industry Association Executive Committee and co-chairman of the highly successful Go RVing Coalition.  He built his company’s reputation for commitment to service of both his dealers and his customers.
•  Stanley Sunshine, of Atlanta, Ga.  As chairman of Stag Parkway, Sunshine served on the board of the RV Aftermarket Association from 1991 to 1999, including as chairman in 1998 and 1999.  He served on the RVIA board from 2003 to 2010.  He is a long time champion of the RV Learning Center and promoting efficiency in the industry.
• Ellwood A. Titcomb (deceased) of Lake Helen, Fla. As the president of Americorp, he has, since the 1940s, pioneered the development of housing communities throughout the country.  He pioneered “no steps” ground level home placement in communities in New England, California and Florida.
• Perry Yoder (deceased)  of Middlebury, Ind., He served the RV industry with four manufacturers and with L&W Engineering a component supplier.  In 1975, he patented a slideout mechanism for RVs.  A long time member of the IMHA-RVIC board, he served as chairman of the Midwest RV Show committee.
• Mary Irene Younkin, of Columbus, Ohio.  A 60-year veteran of the housing industry, she chaired the Ohio MHA convention for 12 years and has served the Ohio MHA for more than 30 years..  She founded Dycom Industries to develop housing communities and promote the use of fiber optics in Florida.  Mrs Younkin joins her late husband and her son in the RV/MH Hall of Fame.

The RV/MH Hall of Fame and its related archival library of literature and photographs and its museum of historic vehicles is housed in a 85,000 square foot facility along side Interstate 80/90 in Elkhart, Ind. For more information, visit http://www.rvmhhalloffame.org.

SOURCE: RV/MH Hall of Fame press release