NAAA Honors Industry Veterans for Longtime Service, Contributions

By Richard Greene, Auto Group Features Editor
October 03, 2008

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Auction industry veterans were in the spotlight Thursday evening in the nation's capital during the grand awards banquet that typically closes out the annual convention of the National Auto Auction Association.

Five leaders were recognized for their dedicated service to the NAAA and honored by their peers. Inducted into the NAAA Hall of Fame were Stephen Houston, national vice president of vehicle marketing for Wachovia Dealer Services and IARA chairman of the board, and Raymond Nichols, chairman of BSC America Auction Group and past president of the NAAA.

In recognition of their significant contributions to the auction industry, the NAAA also honored Chet Goins, Jim Hallett and Jimmy Rea. Each was presented the NAAA's Industry Pioneer Award.

Earlier in the week, Bill Lanier, who recently retired from the auction block after spending more than 50 years selling vehicles at auctions throughout the Southeast, was the recipient of the 2008 Bernie Hart Memorial Auctioneer Award.

Hall of Fame Inductees

In introducing Houston, Jim DesRochers, a past NAAA president, described him as "a low-key and well-respected leader." Houston spent more than 20 years in the Seattle area as a partner in a family-owned new car dealership.

In 1993 he relocated to southern California where be managed several large dealership groups, including Paulson Automotive Group in Beverly Hills.

"He left the retail side of the business in 1999 to pursue the best part of the industry: used cars, the auctions and remarketing, and has worked for WFS/Wachovia since January of 2001," DesRochers pointed out.

He added that Houston has also served the industry by working on a number of NAAA committees, helping to found IARA and serving as its president for the 2005 term.

"We honor Steve for his integrity and devotion to the auction industry, and I am privileged to welcome him to the Hall of Fame on behalf of the members of the NAAA," DesRochers noted.

Moving on, Chuck Stepter, NAAA general counsel, introduced Ray Nichols as "a leader with family, friends, business and NAAA, who is frequently relied on by many of us as a confidential adviser."

Highlighting Nichols' life in the industry, Stepter related that Nichols left a very successful business career with a "hair-brained idea" to borrow $5,000 and open an auction business with his wife, Elaine.

"That husband and wife partnership grew the auction and related businesses more than even they could have imagined, raising two fine children along the way and giving back to the communities and industries they worked in," Stepter said.

"This husband and wife partnership built a group of businesses that include wholesale auto auctions, asset management, liquidation, floor planning, remarketing services to lenders and lessors, and residual and specialized insurance services for major lenders and lessors, including major financial and automotive companies in addition to various other real property partnerships and interests," he added.

Concluding his remarks by characterizing Nichols as one who regularly practices his "Energizer Bunny routine," Stepter welcomed Nichols to the Hall of Fame, calling him "a great family man, friend, successful business person, NAAA leader and a proud native of Maryland's eastern shore."

Pioneer Award Honorees

Meanwhile, making the presentation to Chet Goins was long-time friend and business associate Mike Hockett, chief executive officer of Auction Broadcasting Co.

"I've known Chester for 35 years and been his business partner for 10 years, and I admire both his accomplishments and his industry expertise," said Hockett. "Chet founded Auto Dealer Exchange Indianapolis in 1979. In just six years, he grew the auction from five to 10 lanes, building it into a thriving facility which stands today as one of the larger independently owned auctions in the country. He has also operated very successful auctions in Chicago and Alabama. In 1984, his was the first auction in the industry to guarantee vehicle mileage and was also one of the first to have its own floor plan company."

Hockett also shared a little-known fact about Goins. "I knew that Chet was a veteran of World War II, and that he served in the U.S. Navy, but I recently found out that he was awarded the Purple Heart after he was injured during a kamikaze raid on his battleship, the U.S.S. Barry," noted Hockett. "He's a man who is dedicated to his country, his family and this industry. I'm proud to call him my friend, and very pleased to present him with the NAAA Industry Pioneer Award."

Next to be honored was James Hallett, president and CEO of ADESA. Hallett's colleague, Warren Byrd, executive vice president of corporate development at ADESA, took the podium to introduce "a foreign country boy with modest means who has become the top executive of a very large U.S. company with 10,000 employees and billions of dollars of revenue. He would tell you that he is nothing out of the ordinary — just given tremendous opportunity to pursue the American dream."

Tracing Hallett's career, Byrd noted that Hallett went to work for a retail car business just after college and became a general manager of a large franchise dealership. After 10 years, he made a career change to the wholesale side of the business and "pioneered" a greenfield auto auction known as the Ottawa Auto Dealers Exchange.

Three years later, he started yet another auction in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Within a few months, both auctions were merged with ADESA, and he was named president of Canadian operations. Soon thereafter, he led ADESA to acquire an auction in Montreal, which today continues to be one of ADESA's largest, most profitable locations.

"In 1996, this pioneer accepted the call to come to the U.S. to take over the management of all of ADESA," Byrd recounted. "He led ADESA in 1996 with 16 auctions and essentially no earnings to what it is today, with 60 auctions and hundreds of millions of dollars in earnings. And, he fulfilled two other major dreams along the way: one, to create a national chain in Canada with the acquisition of the Canadian Auction Group and several other key independents. And, second, the accomplishment of a salvage or insurance auction component of ADESA now known as Insurance Auto Auctions."

Byrd described Hallett as a pioneer for continuous change and improvement in the industry and a pioneer for collaboration. "Almost everyone in this room has been impacted by his pioneering either directly or indirectly," stressed Byrd. "Tireless in striving for excellence, for going the extra mile, Jim is a recognized leader, one whose efforts have left an indelible mark on our industry."

Finally, Charlotte Pyle, NAAA southern zone president, along with her husband, Joe Pyle, introduced this year's third industry pioneer — Jimmy Rea. Calling Rea "the epitome of a pioneer," the Pyles described the early years of his career, when he started a used-car business with a loan of $3,000 and his decision to break into the auto auction business, which resulted in the founding of Rea Brothers' Mid-South Auto Auction.

"After a successful tenure in the auto arena, Jimmy decided to attend Mendenhall School of Auctioneering," explained the Pyles. "Upon returning with a diploma and a burning desire to open an auction, Jimmy successfully ran his first vehicle auction in an old freight transport building."

With the addition of two partners, Rea's auction continued to grow and a second location was added in the early 1980s. For three years he conducted two sales and then decided to sell the originating auction.

"With his Southern gentlemanly charm and dedication to customer service, it's no wonder his auction has outgrown its facility, which has been relocated four times since its inception," the Pyles further pointed out.

Noting that Rea was the NAAA Southern zone president in 1998, both Pyles described Rea as a character with a big heart and bigger sense of humor.

"With his Southern drawl and outgoing personality, he has always been able to speak his piece, make you laugh even if you disagree," they said. "We are thrilled to award this honor to our friend Jimmy Rea, a man with the ‘biggest heart' and passion to help others."

Auctioneer of the Year

Illness kept Lanier from attending the convention this year, but his award was accepted on his behalf by Jane Morgan, president of the specialty division for ADESA.

"Bill Lanier has made an immeasurable contribution to our industry over the past half-century," Morgan said during the Wednesday luncheon.

"In a career that spanned 53 years, he has chanted as more than 20 million vehicles rolled across the block at more than 20 auctions. Certainly he's one of the most familiar faces and ‘mouths' in our industry, who has lent his talents to corporate auctions and independent auctions throughout the Southeast," she added.

"We're here today to acknowledge a lifetime of achievement, leadership and overall professionalism," Morgan continued. "Certainly Bill's accomplishments as an auctioneer more than qualified him for this award. But his contributions to our industry reach far beyond his work on the block and years of service. He has also encouraged the next generation of auctioneers, as a mentor and a teacher. His influence will be felt for years to come."

Auction/Wholesale