Certainly, our own Dave Humphreys' accomplishments on behalf of the RV industry are well known to most of us, but it's nice to see that he's getting the recognition outside our small circle he deserves. And being honored by the American Recreation Coalition (ARC) with its 2001 Sheldon Coleman Great Outdoors Award is about as important an award anyone in the recreation community can receive. The award is named after Sheldon Coleman, the driving force behind taking a small lantern company in the early 1900s and building it into a company whose name is synonymous with outdoor recreation -- The Coleman Company. Sheldon Coleman himself was a avid outdoors man, and it was highly appropriate that ARC established this award following Mr. Coleman's passing. So Dave now joins a growing list of dignitaries, including its first honoree, former President George Bush (the elder), who have made significant contributions to the American outdoors.

And I believe that by honoring Dave Humphreys with this award, ARC honors our whole industry, and therefore we can all be justifiably proud of the award.

So RV News would like to add its heartfelt congratulation to Dave for not only receiving this award, but also for the contributions he has make to all of our successes over a life devoted to our cause.

As an RV journalist it has been my privilege to have had the opportunity to sit down with Dave on many occasions to talk with him about the issues facing the industry and learn how he planned his strategies to get the industry through some really tough times.

It's an acknowledged fact that there may not have been a Recreation Vehicle Industry Association had it not been for Dave. As a young attorney, he was at the meetings that eventually formed RVIA and helped negotiate with warring factions within the industry to bring harmony and ultimately a united voice to combat the negative impression politicians had about the RV industry and our "gas-guzzling" products amid the energy crisis.

It may surprise many to know that Dave started out life bent on becoming a Catholic priest, but in college his interests changed to law. I can only say that the Catholic Church's loss has been our industry's gain.

This industry is lucky to have a man of Humphreys' caliber and character and he has led us through some difficult times with his rare brand of leadership and diplomatic skills.

In 1990, RV News named Dave the "RV Industry Executive of the Decade" (the eighties), in 1997 he was inducted into the RV-MH Hall of Fame, and now in 2001 he is honored with the Sheldon Coleman Great Outdoors Award.