Nelson and Mary Emily Jackson honored in 2006 by the state of South Carolina.
Nelson and Mary Emily Jackson, founders of the Ocean Lakes Family Campground in Myrtle Beach, S.C., will be among the 2012 inductees into the RV/MH Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Ind.
Beginning in the early 1970s, the Jacksons built Ocean Lakes into a community which now provides sites for 3,449 RVs and is one of the largest campgrounds in the East. They were recognized by the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) as national RV Park of the Year in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2008 and 2009.
In 2005 they were honored by the South Carolina governor for their efforts in promoting tourism in the state. Both are now deceased.
The Jacksons and their fellow class members will be inducted in ceremonies on Aug. 6 in Elkhart.
Other inductees selected by the RV/MH Heritage Foundation for the 40th anniversary class are:
- Michael R. Evans of Aberdeen, S.D., founder and developer of Centennial Homes, a housing retailer with locations in three states serving customers in 10 states providing affordable housing to over 12,000 families. He has served 20 years on the board of the South Dakota Housing Association.
- Doug Gorman of Tulsa, Okla. Founder and owner of Home-Mart. He was a charter member of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Consensus Committee as the only housing retailer on the committee. He is past chairman of the MHI Federated States Division representing retailers and community operators and has been recognized 9 times as MHI Retail Center of the Year.
- Edith Lane (deceased) of Deming, N.M. Founder in 1969 and leader of the national Loaners on Wheels club for single RV travelers now having chapters throughout the U.S. and in Canada. Developer of three RV Parks targeting single RVers and a longtime columnist on the RV lifestyle in national consumer magazines.
- Gerald “Jiggs” Meuret of Wausau, Wis. While growing his company, Housing Mart of Wausau, he served 32 years on the board of directors of the Wisconsin Housing Alliance including terms as chairman in 1981, 1983-84, and in 1990. as the only three-term chairman of his association, he developed such credibility that 100% of the producers in his state became members. He has been a firm advocate of customer service while providing thousands of families with homes.
- Bob Olson of Forest City, Iowa, chairman and CEO of Winnebago Industries, and veteran member of the RVIA Executive Committee and co-chairman of the highly successful Go RVing Coalition. He built his company’s reputation for commitment to service of both his dealers and his customers.
- Stanley Sunshine of Atlanta, Ga. As chairman of Stag Parkway, he served on the board of the RV Aftermarket Association from 1991 to 1999 including as chairman in 1998 and 1999. He served on the RVIA board from 2003 to 2010. He is a long time champion of the RV Learning Center and promoting efficiency in the industry.
- Ellwood A. Titcomb (deceased) of Lake Helen, Fla. As the president of Americorp he pioneered the development of housing communities throughout the country starting in the 1940s. He pioneered “no steps” ground level home placement in communities in New England, California and Florida.
- Perry Yoder (deceased) of Middlebury, Ind, He served the RV industry with four manufacturers and with L&W Engineering a component supplier. In 1975 he patented a slide-out mechanism for RVs. A long time member of the IMHA-RVIC board, he served as chairman of the Midwest RV Show committee.
- Mary Irene Younkin of Columbus, Ohio. A 60-plus year veteran of the housing industry, she chaired the Ohio MHA convention for 12 years and has served the OHIO mha for over 30 years.. She founded Dycom Industries to develop housing communities and promote the use of fiber optics in Florida. Mrs Younkin joins her late husband and her son in the RV/MH Hall of Fame.
Since its beginning in 1972, the Hall of Fame has honored over 350 leaders of the recreational vehicle and manufactured housing with induction into the RV/MH Hall of Fame in recognition to their significant and lasting contributions to the greater good of their segment of the industries. The RV/MH Hall of Fame and its related archival library of literature and photographs and its museum of historic vehicles is housed in a 85,000-square-foot facility along side Interstate 80/90 in Elkhart.
