Rent-to-own News - Rent-to-own industry bestows highest awards to deserving individuals and the year's top state association

The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations bestowed the industry’s highest honors upon five rental dealers, one vendor and the year’s top state rental dealers association during APRO’s 2007 Rent-to-Own Convention and Buying Show on September 27 in Reno, Nevada. The 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Dave Egan. This award recognizes a lifetime of effort and accomplishment in the industry and only 13 people have been so honored since APRO’s inception. Egan served as one of Rent-A-Center’s first in-house lawyers and admirably and deftly steered the company and APRO through a number of state legislative battles with incredibly successful results.

Egan was instrumental in creating the state legislative strategy that exists today and, accordingly, APRO’s annual Legislative Conference was named after him. Egan is now retired and resides in Wichita, Kansas. The 2007 President’s Award of Excellence was presented to Gary McDougal of Tennessee. Although retired from the business, McDougal remains politically involved in the industry’s efforts in Washington, D.C. McDougal served as APRO president for three terms, was named APRO Rental Dealer of the Year and has never missed an APRO legislative conference. He has raised thousands of dollars in donated products and money for the Congressional Black Caucus and continues to strengthen the rent-to-own industry’s alliance with the CBC. The 2007 Rental Dealer of the Year was awarded to John Darden, a Premier franchisee with stores in Virginia.

Darden began his career with industry legends Chuck Sims and Willie Talley, working at Remco and ColorTyme. He is very active in state political campaigns as well as serving as the political strategist and chief of staff for a Republican challenger to his state’s Senate seat. Two rental dealers were awarded the 2007 Heritage Award this year. The first winner is David P. David of Full-O-Pep Appliances, in Bloomington, Indiana, who has served on the APRO board for a record 18 years. David’s involvement and support of the industry is illustrated in his almost two decades of service. In addition, David is heavily involved with raising funds year after year for the Children’s Miracle Network and Riley’s Children's Hospital. He is also a former Rental Dealer of the Year. The second Heritage Award winner is Steve Kruse of Bestway in Dallas, Texas. A 30-year industry veteran, Kruse serves as the company’s operations analyst and has been instrumental in compiling and disseminating critical industry information to members of Congress during the APRO Legislative Conference.

The 2007 Vendor of the Year award was presented to Bill French, vice president of sales for O’Rourke Distributing. French was honored for his affable character and undying support for rent-to-own customers and dealers. The State Association of the Year Award was bestowed to the Missouri Rental Dealers Association. MRDA has maintained a very effective legislative agenda, held two outstanding and highly attended meetings during the past year and was instrumental in securing William Lacy Clay as lead sponsor of H.R. 1767. “Tiger” John Cleek Sr., chairman of APRO’s State Association Coordinating Committee, presented the State Association of the Year Award to his son, current MRDA President “Tiger” John Cleek Jr. and also summoned all Missouri rental dealers in the audience at the Awards Banquet to come to the stage to accept the award. APRO would like to congratulate these honorees for their unflinchable and enthusiastic support of the rent-to-own industry. Click here to view more photographs from the Awards Banquet.