W. Marvin Rush, chairman of Rush Enterprises, New Braunfels, Texas, won the Truck Dealer of the Year Award, sponsored jointly by Heavy Duty Trucking magazine and the American Truck Dealers division of the National Automobile Dealers Association.
W. Marvin Rush
W. Marvin Rush


Rush, one of 12 nominees, received the award at the opening general session of the 45th annual ATD Convention & Exposition in Dallas on Saturday, April 26. Candidates were selected for business excellence, industry participation and outstanding civil accomplishments.

Oscar Horton, president of Sun State International Trucks in Tampa, Fla., was named finalist for the award.

In 1965, Rush opened his first dealership with two partners in Houston, Texas. In 1967, he made his first 100-unit fleet sale of Peterbilt trucks and started a leasing company and a financial services division. Nine years later, Rush bought out his partners to become the sole owner of Rush Enterprises. In 1996, the company was the first franchised dealership to be listed on the NASDAQ under the symbol RUSH. Today the stock trades as RUSHA and RUSHB. As the company grew it continued to acquire dealerships in the southern belt, and today is the largest medium- and heavy-duty dealership organization in North America.

Awards earned by Rush Enterprises include: GMC and Isuzu Truck's Top Performer (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006); Hino Motors Market Top Dealer (2006); President's Hiyaku Award for National Excellence (2006); President's Sales Leadership Award (2006); and 29 separate Peterbilt Platinum Oval Awards. In addition, Rush received the 2007 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® Award in the Distribution and Construction category for the Houston and Gulf Coast areas. The award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who build and lead dynamic, growing businesses and have demonstrated excellence in business practices.

The other 10 nominees were:
  • Gerald Chunn, partner, Lonestar Truck Group, North Richland Hills, Texas;
  • Kenneth "Kenny" Doonan, president, Doonan Truck & Equipment of Wichita (Kan.);
  • Thomas "Tom" Graddy, chairman and CEO, Vanguard Truck Centers, Forest Park, Ga.;
  • Charles "Chuck" Haden III, president/dealer principal, General Truck Sales, South Charleston, W.V.;
  • John Franklin Hogan, dealer principal/owner, Crossroads Truck Solutions, Springfield, Ill.;
  • Ray Mason, president, Columbus Truck & Equipment, Columbus, Ohio;
  • Bill McKenna, dealer principal, McKenna Truck Center, Des Moines, Iowa;
  • Brian O'Donnell, president, Valley Ford Truck, Cleveland, Ohio;
  • Peter Scheler, CEO, Five Star International, Erie, Pa.;
  • Cooper Sykes, president, Cooper Kenworth, Durham, N.C..

    Rush, Horton and the other 10 nominees share their thoughts on the economy and trends affecting the trucking business in the May issue of Heavy Duty Trucking.
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