Tulsan Inducted into RV Hall of Fame
Surrounded by more than 300 family, friends, and colleagues from across the country, Tulsa’s Doug Gorman was inducted into the RV/MH Hall of Fame, along with nine others in the Class of 2012 at a gala ceremony in August in Elkhart, Ind.
The Hall recognized Gorman, founder and owner of Home-Mart, a housing retailer in Tulsa, for his appointment in 2001 by Secretary of Mel Martinez, to the newly established Manufactured Housing Consensus Committee. The only retailer on the committee, Gorman served in that capacity until the end of 2010. Gorman has received manufactured housing’s Retail Person of the Year award, and Home-Mart has been selected 10 times as the industry’s Retail Center of the Year. In 2000, the Tulsa Metro Chamber named Gorman Small Businessperson of the Year.
Another achievement Gorman was recognized for was the establishment of Tulsa’s Great Southwest Home Show, which is held annually at the end of February in the QuikTrip Center. He continues to serve as chairman of the show, which draws industry participants from across a large part of the country.
Barry Cole (Manufactured Housing Insurance Services), chairman of the board of directors for the Hall, says, “What a joyous occasion with all past legends and present leaders of our great industries to honor the ten new inductees. There is no industry function that can equal the emotional feeling and happiness when mingling and networking with so many greatest of the great.
“The cocktail party was fun, the huge group picture with all attending was charming, the dinner as always was incredible and best of all was the touring of the RV/MH Hall of Fame itself.” Cole continues. “Wandering through the exhibits, theater, library and museum surprised some new guests. They were shocked at the unbelievable greatness and beauty of the building plus discovering their heritage for the first time. All comments from everyone referencing the Hall were in superlatives.”
Keynote Speaker David Humphreys, former president of the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association says, “The Hall of Fame serves many purposes for the industry. Besides providing a great consumer attraction, the Hall of Fame defines an important message for the financial community, the media and legislators, and it gives a sense of pride, unity and accomplishment for the entire industry.”
About the RV/MH Hall of Fame.
The RV/MH Heritage Foundation was formed on March 22, 1972 by a group of trade and consumer magazine publishers attending the meeting in Washington D.C. In early 2007, the foundation moved into its new facility at 21565 Executive Parkway in Elkhart. The 56,000 square foot brand new building houses the RV/MH Hall of Fame honoring industry leaders, a museum of vintage units from 1913 up to the 1970s, a Go RVing Hall showcasing the latest current models, an Exhibitors Hall where industry supply firms tell their company story, and the world’s largest library of RV and manufactured housing related literature and photos.
Updated 08-27-2012
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