16 I PSAI Association Insight, September 15, 2021
Ron Bird: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly
By Jeff Wigley, Past President
Our PSAI family was
disheartened to learn that
our longtime friend, Ron
Bird, passed away on August
30, 2021. Earlier this year, in
April, we also lost Ron's wife
and business partner, Gladys.
Born on
September
15, 1931, in
Indianapolis,
Ron was to
spend his
entire life in
Indiana. He
joined the Boy
Scouts in the
early 1940s
and attained
the rank of Eagle Scout. He lived and
exemplified the ideals of Scouting his
entire life. In 1949 he graduated from
Carmel High School in a northern suburb
of Indianapolis.
"A Scout is loyal." Ron was a loyal
patriot and joined the US Army Air
Corps upon graduation. He served in
the Korean War and was honorably
discharged in 1953. Returning to
Indianapolis, he enrolled in Butler
University and was also a drummer in
the pep band. Given that Indianapolis is
home to one of the world's most famous
races, the Indianapolis 500, Ron also
quite naturally developed a love of cars
as well as photography.
Truly a match made in heaven occurred
on November 19, 1983, when Ron
married Gladys Harrison Harling in
Knoxville, Tennessee. Together they
were inseparable in life and in business.
Often referred to as one name, "Ron &
Gladys," this couple had a major impact
on our industry and on the PSAI.
One of Ron's early business experiences
was to profoundly affect our industry.
Ron served as the operations manager
for BFI in Indianapolis where he became
familiar with the waste industry. Then in
1988, "Ron & Gladys" were hired to run
PolyJohn's Ameri-Can restroom trailer
operation in Whiting, Indiana. Ironically,
Ron's first trailer sale was to his former
company, BFI.
By 1990, Ameri-Can became an
independent company with "Ron &
Gladys" as its owners. With this new
product in the industry, there were
many long hours of work, customer
calls, advertising campaigns, and
attendance at countless trade shows and
conventions. Fortunately for the PSAI,
the Birds joined our Association and
were leaders in the adoption of trailer
equipment, now popular moneymakers
for many PSAI members.
"A Scout is helpful and friendly."
"Ron & Gladys" were always helpful
and friendly to everyone. They attended
PSAI functions, actively participated in
roundtables, and served on Committees
—all to help fellow members and to
share their knowledge and experience.
"Ron & Gladys" enjoyed common
outside interests as well. As was
mentioned in Gladys' tribute article in
April, the couple went on 48 cruises
throughout the world. Closer to home,
this amazing couple supported the
