Stacey Gillman Wimbish Stacey Gillman Wimbish - Media ...

Marvin Rush:Setting the Bar HighW. Marvin Rush set 4 goals when he graduatedhigh school. He planned to become a GeneralMotors dealer, own a bank, take a companypublic, and reach over $1 billion in annual sales— some pretty high goals for an 18-year-old.Rush achieved his first goal before he was 30 when he foundedRush Enterprises, Inc. in 1965. He and two partners openedtheir first GM truck dealership in Houston, Texas.Rush served as president of Rush Enterprises for 30 years,before taking the position of CEO and Chairman of the Board.In 2006, Rush’s son Rusty took on the role of CEO, while Rushcontinued to serve as Chairman — the position in which hecurrently serves.Since the inception of Rush Enterprises, Rush’s vision was tobuild a network of dealerships to sell, lease and service trucks.In 1967, he expanded the company when he added the Peterbiltfranchise, kicking it off with the sale of his first 100-unit fleet.Rush purchased his first bank in 1993 — goal accomplished— and today serves on the board and is a major stockholder ofTexStar National Bank in San Antonio.After Rush bought out his founding partners, he acquiredseveral more dealerships and Rush Enterprises eventuallybecame the largest network of commercial vehicle dealershipsin the country, selling Peterbilt, International, Hino, Isuzu,Ford Mitsubishi,UD, Autocar, BlueBird, IC, Diamondand Elkhart. Rushwas leading the companyto great heightsand in 1996, he was ableto achieve another one of hisgoals; Rush IPO went public andwas listed on the NASDAQ under the symbol RUSH.Today, the network of dealerships provides one-stop sales andservice, aftermarket parts, service and body shop capabilities,chrome accessories, tires, financing and insurance, and leasingand rental services. Rush Enterprises now has over 100 locationswith almost 3,000 employees, and annual sales over $1.2 billion— Rush’s final goal accomplished. Locations are in Alabama,Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, New Mexico,Oklahoma, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.Rush has served on several boards, including the NationalAutomobile Dealers Association, American Truck Dealers Division,and currently serves on the board for the Texas Departmentof Motor Vehicles.Not only has Rush accomplished all his major goals, hereceived countless awards along the way, including the NorthAmerican Peterbilt Dealer of the Year in 1993, 1994, 2000 and2001; 2007 Regional Award for Entrepreneur of the Year; AmericanTruck Dealers’ 2008 Dealer of the Year; and NorthwoodUniversity Business Leader in 2009. visit us atwww.tada.org2012 SPRING 29