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A Golden AnniversaryPosted 5/16/2001By George W. “Bud” Merwin III
But if a business is successful and still advancing at 50 then that's something, regardless of age, those involved can all be proud of. There are tens of thousands of associations today, but only a few thousand reach the golden milestone. Automotive Service Association (ASA) members can be proud! Over the years, many associations and names have been melted into what ASA is today: The Independent Garagemen's Association of Texas, the Independent Garage Owners of America, the Autobody Association of America and the Automotive Service Councils, Inc. During the consolidation procedures of the Automotive Service Councils and the Independent Automotive Service Association in 1985, it was decided that ASA would retain the Texas Corporation Charter as the oldest of the two groups. So, this year we really celebrate the 50th anniversary through our heritage of the “Independent Garagemen's Association of Texas,” which is now, after several name changes and consolidations, the Automotive Service Association. In 1951 only metropolitan associations and a few statewide groups existed in the automotive service industry. Many of these groups were comingled with other segments, parts jobbers, car dealers, service stations and machine shops. And then, in 1954, a shop owner by the name of Ralph James from Tulsa, Okla., decided it was time for a national association to represent the independent garage owner. Being a one-man operation (very common in those days) Ralph decided to close shop and head around the country to meet with local and state groups. He made one issue his platform in convincing them that a strong federation was needed to lead our efforts: lobby Congress to establish a federal mandatory motor vehicle safety inspection program. In 1955 his organizational goal was accomplished when most of the groups from around the country met in Tulsa, Okla., and formed the Independent Garage Owners Association of America, the first national association of ASA's heritage. It is said that during those formative years a group of members from California met one evening at a shop and wrote with chalk on the shop floor the beginnings of the association's code of ethics, which we still use today. During the '60s, ASA made great strides in establishing relationships with other segments of the automotive industry. Regular meetings with the automobile manufacturers took place to discuss repairability and the industry's need for more accurate technical information. Members of the association spent many hours in these meetings making sure the independents' needs were considered. The '60s also saw ASA become the starter for voluntary technician certification by convincing other groups to join with them in starting the National Automotive Technicians Certification Board (NATCB), a testing program for technicians. NATCB was later merged with ASE. It was with great fanfare in 1974 that the association announced the opening of its Washington office and the hiring of Don Randall as its lobbyist. Finally the “independents” would be represented in Washington. The '70s also brought ASA its greatest challenge with the 1970 Federal Clean Air Act. Threats from Detroit to “seal the hoods” were met by ASA's strong opposition and efforts were dedicated to making sure “independents” would be able to service their customer's cars. Thanks mainly to Don Randall and the dues-paying members of ASA, independent repair shops continue to thrive and grow today. Today, Bob Redding continues that service for members and nonmembers alike, as ASA remains the watchdog in Washington for the industry. The '80s brought the “Chevrolet Citation” and its unitized construction, forcing the collision repair industry to rethink and retool the whole concept of after-collision repair. And at the same time, environmental regulations were forcing manufacturers to come up with better paint booths and drying systems along with new types of paint materials. When the call came for technical training and I-CAR was formed, ASA was there. Recognizing the industry's need for new equipment and technical knowledge, ASA started the International Autobody Conference and Exposition (NACE). Today, it is the largest international collision repair industry annual meeting and trade show in the world. The '80s and '90s brought the computer to the automobile, creating a whole new set of knowledge needs for both the mechanical and collision segments of the industry. Today, ASA members' shops and equipment are a far cry from those of the '50s. Just as the automobile has changed, so has the industry and the people in it. Shop owners have honed their business management skills and have learned to spend less time fixing cars and more time managing their customers and employees. Some may think change has not come fast enough and indeed there is a lot yet to do. But from my personal perspective (I entered the industry in 1948 while a freshman in high school), we've come a long way! I went to work in my dad's shop as an apprentice bodyman and painter. The first car I owned was a “total loss” I repaired while still in high school. After serving as a truck and tank mechanic in the Army I returned home to work in the shop. In 1965 I joined the Independent Garage Owners of America. After being elected to several local, state and national positions, I left the shop and took a position on the staff of ASA where I spent the next 25 years, retiring in 1998. My 50-year career in the automobile repair industry and involvement with ASA has given me the unique opportunity to grow with the industry and observe firsthand the politics, personalities, crises and many accomplishments of your association. Today, I feel very strongly that ASA's founding fathers would be very proud of the association's accomplishment. On behalf of all of us who think 50 years are “not so long,” thanks for a job well done and congratulations, ASA. Keep up the good work!
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Copyright (c) 1996-2008. Automotive Service Association. All rights reserved.
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Fifty years is “a long time” if you're young, and “not so long” if you're in your senior years.
