The industry’s largest privately-held RV manufacturing company lost their founder on August 13th with the passing of Jim Shea. Shea founded Fairmont Homes, a manufactured housing company, in an old sauerkraut factory in 1971 and launched Gulf Stream Coach in 1983, an RV company. Although Jim Shea’s imprint is all over Fairmont Homes and Gulf Stream RV, the company is now run by his three sons; Brian (motorized division), Dan (towables division) and Jim (Fairmont Homes.)

Jim was 77 when he died. Born in Chicago, IL, his family eventually settled in Detroit, MI where he enjoyed a very successful law practice for the twelve years just prior to entering the manufactured housing and RV industries. He married his wife Peggy in June of 1953 and was discharged from active service with the United States Air Force, as a First Lieutenant Judge Advocate General (JAG), in 1953.

Mr. Shea served as chairman of the board of both Fairmont Homes and Gulf Stream Coach prior to taking emeritus status in more recent years. The company employs almost 2,000 people in the Nappanee and Goshen communities and is ranked as the 16th largest privately-held company in Indiana.

As reported in the obituary printed in the South Bend Tribune, “In addition to his traits of determination and great internal fortitude, Jim was known for his strong leadership, the breadth of his vision, creativity, wisdom, work ethic, and brilliant legal mind. These attributes served him well in enabling him to found two successful companies. He always shared credit for his successes and built people up as he helped them reach their goals and best use their talents. In addition to the opportunities for personal growth within the companies afforded to his employees, Jim mentored and assisted numerous individuals who went on to start their own successful business. His reputation in the industries was one of honesty and fair dealing. He served on various industry association committees including chairman of the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform, which he co-founded. Jim was inducted into the RV/MH Hall of Fame in 2000.

Jim was a renaissance man with a scope of interests and knowledge that extended well beyond business and the law. He loved his home in South Bend, where he resided for 35 years, and in his retirement home in Lighthouse Point, Florida. He was a fabulous chef and enjoyed pleasing his family and friends with his latest, usually improvised, culinary creations. Shea was a master storyteller with a truly prodigious memory and a genuine dog lover.

Most of all he loved his family and his wife of 51 years, Peggy, and he was always happiest when she was at his side. He was a generous father whose support his children could always count on when the chips were down, and his advice was always the very best. He delighted in his grandchildren and encouraged them in their talents and life challenges.”

RV News featured Gulf Stream in a cover story in October 2003. You could see the legacy of Jim Shea being incorporated into everything they are doing at the company these days. Brain Shea told us, “All of our divisions stand on their own. We have developed Fairmont University and Gulf Stream University as part of our continuing commitment to train every employee on continuous product improvement initiatives and our lean manufacturing concepts."

It’s been a long and sometimes challenging journey, but make no mistake about it; Gulf Stream has earned everything they have accomplished these past twenty years. The next twenty years may not be any easier, but they are certainly destined to be more successful. 

Claude Donati, Vice President of Sales, Motorized Division, reminded us all of what Michael Moran likes to say about Gulf Stream. Moran is the West Coast Luxury Division Sales Manager and tells everyone who will listen, "It only took us several years to become an overnight success."

That so-called overnight success was the result of the vision, hard work, and dedication of Jim Shea. He understood the value of a close family, well respected employees, and a desire to give something back to the people and industries he felt so fortunate to serve. Jim Shea will truly be missed, but his legacy will live on and the RV industry is better off today because of this unique man and mentor to so many who must now carry his message now that Jim is no longer with us.