Issue link: http://psai.uberflip.com/i/1385567
ASSOCIATIONINSIGHT Portable Sanitation Association International News BIWEEKLY EDITION JUNE 23, 2021 Page 7 Fathers and Sons of the PSAI…continued from page 3 • 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal • 1979 Pope John Paul II's visit to Washington, DC • 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York Bill Reynolds, Sr. was also one of the first members of the Portable Sanitation Association having attended the first organizational meeting on January 28–29, 1971 in Washington, DC. He also served on the PSA Board of Directors in the early days of the Association. His creativity and his desire to expand the industry into the Special Events marketplace were invaluable to these early members. After college in 1983, Bill, Jr. began to take a much more active role in the company. He consolidated the nine locations, keeping only the Philadelphia Johnny On the Spot and the headquarters location in Columbus, Ohio. He renamed the Columbus location Rent-A-John to avoid confusion with another Johnny On the Spot business based in Ohio. Bill, Jr. credits his success at Rent-A-John through the years to one key element: "I had done every job in the company with my dad—painting wooden units, constructing plastic units, running a route, pickup and delivery, and everything in between. As I have told my employees for many years, 'I will never ask you to do a job that I have not done myself.' This has established a bond of trust with my employees that has been invaluable throughout the years." Ray Luden, Sr. and Ray Luden, Jr. This father and son team have served the PSAI through their leadership and hard work for more than 25 years. Ray Luden, Sr. served as PSAI President in 2001–02 after being a Board member for many years before that time. Ray, Jr., with PolyJohn Enterprises, served on the Board from 2008–10 and continues to actively participate today "wherever and whenever needed." The Ludens' story is inspirational, and it is built on dedication and devotion— to their company and to the PSAI. Ray Luden, Sr. grew up in Connecticut and served in the Army. One of his first jobs was working with the railroad in the late 1960s laying foundations for the tracks. He then began B & R Sewer Construction in Branford, Connecticut and specialized in excavating work. His hard work, forethought, and effective customer satisfaction skills were the strengths upon which he continued to expand his business offerings. In 1974, once again, he expanded his services to include a paving business. His previous work experiences of grading and excavating were useful in this new venture. The year 1980 proved to be a career-changing time not only for Ray Luden, Sr. but, in the years to follow, for the PSAI as well. Farnham Sanitation Systems in Branford, Connecticut lost its owner, Perry Farnham. His wife, Gracie, approached Ray, Sr. about taking over the business at any price, literally. Taking her at her word, Ray, Sr. purchased Farnham for $1 and the assurance that he would keep the company name for a minimum of 10 years. Bill Reynolds, Jr. Farnham Sanitation Farnham Sanitation was a part of the Sani-Service Systems franchise concept that was started in the early 1970s by Frank Ranson and Warren Spivey. Their unique concept was to provide the equipment and the education for new portable restroom companies to begin to operate. Based in Virginia, my research found that there were 25–35 locations of Sani-Service in the eastern side of the United States. Frank Ranson Continued on page 8