The RTO Legend Series
The Legend Series is a pilgrimage into the origins of rent-to-own, told not by historians, but by the very people who lived it, built it, and shaped it with their own hands. These titans of industry carry us back to humble beginnings, each one having carved out their own chapter of this unfolding history. With honesty, they speak of the failures that humbled them, the breakthroughs that lifted them, and the moments the entire industry teetered on the edge of collapse and how they rose, again and again, to carry it forward. This is more than the story of an industry's birth. It is the story of ordinary people who, through grit and unwavering belief, forged something legendary.
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In memory of a true RTO legend: Ernie Lewallen
Ernie Lewallen is a legend in the rent-to-own industry, with more than 43 years of service. He has served as an APRO Board Member for 20 years, including a term as APRO President from 1998-99, and his leadership has extended through a decade of involvement with TRIB Group and the Ohio Rental Dealers Association (ORDA). In 2013, he was honored with APRO’s Lifetime Achievement Award – a professional milestone he has called one of his proudest moments. Ernie was and always will be a true Legend - you will be missed.
Shannon Strunk
President of Baber Strunk Enterprises
David P. David
Founder of American Rental
John Blair
Former Director of the TRIB Group
Mike Strong
Founder of Mike's Rent to Own
Gary Ferriman
Founder of Showplace Rent to Own
Kathy Windsor
Founder of National TV Sales & Rental
Dan Fisher
Founder of Majik Rent to Own
Larry Sutton
Founder of RNR Tire Express
Bill Keese
Former Executive Director at APRO
Trooper Earle
Founder of Premier Rental-Purchase
Bill French
O'Rourke Sales Company
Lyn Leach
Founder of ACE Rent to Own