NEWSLETTERS - RTO veteran Lindsey Semon dies

RTO veteran Lindsey Semon dies

The rent-to-own industry lost one of its most valiant supporters and beloved colleagues Wednesday night with the death of Lindsey Semon, 54, who most recently served as special projects manager at FlexiCompras.

RTO Industry leader Lindsey Semon.

Semon died in his sleep at his Dallas home after a prolonged battle with chronic leukemia.

Last month Semon stepped down from his post at FlexiCompras -- a Dallas rent-to-own chain where he worked for the past three years with president and CEO Alan Hunt. Hunt and wife, Monica recently hosted a dinner party for Semon at their Dallas home where rent-to-own professionals celebrated his career.

Semon began his multi-faceted career in the rent-to-own industry in 1985 when he opened Magic Rentals -- a five-store chain based in North Carolina.

He sold the business in 1994 and started his own own consulting consulting company, RTO Consulting, in 1996.

Before that, Semon worked with Borg Warner -- a financial service provider -- where he led the company's investment in small "mom and pop" RTO companies through 1982.

As a dealer, Semon became a fervid supporter of the industry and served on the APRO Board of Directors from 1991-1993.

Hunt said Semon's extensive experience and leadership at FlexiCompras led to the expansion of 45 stores over the past year alone.

"His experience in this industry was a tremendous asset to our company," Hunt said. "He earned our respect and was personally vital to the building of our company over the last several years. He will be missed."

Denise Raver, vice president of people services at FlexiCompras, said Semon's consideration of of his fellow emplyees at FlexiCompras was evident in numerous thoughful gestures around the office.

Semon's tradition of bringing in donuts to his co-workers every morning was just one example of this, Raver said.

Even as one dozen grew to several as FlexiCompras grew, Semon never relented, often juggling three or four boxes through the door at a time, she said.

"He had a work ethic that was unparralled and often the first person in the office in the morning, even when he was sick," Raver said. "His illness, which many of us didn't even know about until recently, never compromised his dedication to his work."

In a recent interview with RTO Today, Semon said he had called off all further chemotherapy treatments which he had endured over the last six years.

"I'm tired of being sick," Semon said. "I've called off the treatments and there is some risk, but I'm okay with that."

mevans@rtohq.org