A storefront in Texarkana, Texas, with the words “rent to own” caught Bill French’s attention in 1972. More than five decades later, that chance encounter has grown into a career intertwined with the history of the rent-to-own industry itself.
APRO honored French, Vice President of Rent-to-Own Sales at APRO Member O’Rourke Sales Company, with the 2026 Ernie Talley Lifetime Achievement Award at RTO World 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The Lifetime Achievement Award honors individuals who have demonstrated a long-standing commitment to the rent-to-own industry and APRO. Named for RTO pioneer Ernie Talley, the award recognizes respected industry leaders whose careers reflect consistent excellence, service, and lasting impact.
French’s connection to rent-to-own began while he was working a retail sales territory in Arkansas. Curious about that Texarkana storefront, he walked inside and met Bob White of Crown Rental. Within two years, Crown Rental had become French’s largest customer, beginning a relationship with an emerging industry that few manufacturers or suppliers yet understood.
In those early years, French became an advocate for rent-to-own inside the manufacturing world. He worked to help companies understand how rental agreements differed from traditional retail transactions, including persuading RCA to begin product warranties from the date an item was first rented to a customer rather than the date it originally left the factory.
French also holds a unique place in APRO history. In the early 1980s, Bill White invited him to attend the organizational meeting in Dallas that would establish APRO. French was the only vendor or supplier in the room.
His career would eventually take him through leadership roles with the Frank Lyon Co., Zenith, and LG Electronics before he joined O’Rourke Sales Company in 2001. There, French took the lead in developing O’Rourke’s dedicated rent-to-own business and spent the next 25 years helping the company serve rental dealers with products ranging from appliances and televisions to gaming systems and emerging technology.
His involvement has extended well beyond the sales floor. French served on the APRO Board of Directors and as Vice Chair of APRO’s Vendor Advisory Committee. He has been a consistent supporter of state rental dealer associations and a familiar presence at APRO’s Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., advocating alongside dealers on behalf of the industry.
Over the years, APRO has recognized French multiple times for that service, including with the Norm Smith Vendor of the Year Award in 2007 and the APRO President’s Award of Excellence in 2024. Earlier this year, APRO also featured French in its RTO Legends Take the Mic series, preserving his memories and perspective from more than 50 years in the industry.
As he accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award, however, French was quick to share the recognition with the people who have been part of that journey.
“To be mentioned in the same sentence with all of the legends of this industry that have come before me, which is really a who’s who of the rent-to-own industry, is absolutely amazing,” said French.
He thanked the rental dealers who became not only customers but friends, O’Rourke CEO Jeff O’Rourke for giving him the tools to serve the industry, and employees throughout the O’Rourke organization whose work supports customers every day.
French said he considers the award recognition of their work as much as his own.
As French prepares for retirement, the Ernie Talley Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a career that reaches back to rent-to-own’s earliest years and a vendor leader who helped manufacturers understand the business, strengthened relationships between suppliers and dealers, supported APRO and its advocacy work, and remained an enthusiastic champion for the industry throughout it all.
“It’s been an amazing ride, and if you love what you do, it is not work,” said French.
Watch the Acceptance Video on YouTube
About O’Rourke Sales Company
Founded in 1965, O’Rourke Sales Company is a national distributor and fulfillment partner serving the rent-to-own industry and other retail channels. The company supplies rent-to-own dealers with major appliances, consumer electronics, computers, phones, furniture, and other household products through six distribution centers across the United States. O’Rourke Sales Company has been an APRO vendor member since 2006.
