Two rental industry veterans will become the newest inductees into the Rental Hall of Fame in February. The late T. Charles McCourt and John (Jack) Greenfield will be formally inducted during a ceremony at The Rental Show in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 10.
The American Rental Association created the Rental Hall of Fame in 2000 to foster an appreciation of the historical development of the rental industry and the leaders who have made the industry what it is today. Each year, nominations are accepted to recognize individuals who have made a substantial impact on the industry at the national or international level. The induction ceremony is held annually during The Rental Show keynote session.
Charlie McCourt was a former rental store owner and the founder and owner of McCourt Manufacturing, Fort Smith, Ark., a leading chair and table supplier to the rental industry.
McCourt began his career as a chemical engineer. In 1964, McCourt purchased a general equipment rental store in Lancaster, Pa., which was the first of six rental stores located in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia that he accrued over the next 10 years. They were so successful that McCourt sold each to its respective manager.
He then moved to the supplier end of the rental industry, with a goal to improve products and customer service. McCourt’s advice, understanding and knowledge of the rental industry helped hundreds of rental stores during his years in manufacturing. He was one of the founders of Rental Service Supply, which later was named RSS Distributors, and founded McCourt Manufacturing in 1983. The company began producing the Series 2 polypropylene folding chair and has since produced more than five million chairs and introduced folding tables and other products that are designed for the demands of rental use. McCourt Manufacturing will be exhibiting at The Rental Show for the 27th time in Orlando.
McCourt was active in ARA’s Region Two, was an at-large director of ARA and received the association’s Special Service Award in 1997. He served as a trustee of the ARA Foundation when it was reactivated in 2000.
McCourt passed away on Dec. 28, 2012.
Jack Greenfield has contributed to the rental industry at every level — local, state, regional and national — while serving as president of Bunce Rental in Tacoma, Wash. He was actively involved in the formation of the South Sound Rental Association, served on numerous ARA committees, served as ARA Region Eight Director from 1985-1987 and was president of the American Rental Association in 1994.
Greenfield’s most significant contribution to the success of the rental industry was in the area of insurance as he knew the importance of having available, industry-specific insurance for equipment rental. He served as chairman of the board for ARDI, which later became ARA Insurance Services and is now known as ARA Insurance. He was integral in the transition of ARDI and the ARDI Exchange to ARA Insurance Services and the creation of ARA Insurance Limited, a captive insurance company.
Headquartered in Moline, Ill., ARA is an international trade association for owners of equipment rental businesses and the manufacturers and suppliers of construction/industrial, general tool and party/event rental equipment.
