I am heartened to know Els will be remembered . . . .
Landspeed
+++++++++++
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEMA, 909/396-0289
SEMA ESTABLISHES ELS LOHN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND
DIAMOND BAR, Calif. -SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, has
established a new scholarship fund in the memory of Els Lohn, one of the
industry's
most dedicated pioneers, according to Charles R. Blum, president of SEMA, the
Specialty Equipment Market Association. Lohn has repeatedly been recognized as
the
one-man force behind the organization of the original SEMA, the Speed
Equipment
Manufacturers Association, chartered in 1963. Lohn succumbed to heart failure
on
Jan. 1, 2002, following a brief illness. He was 75 years of age.
The loss of one of the industry's most distinguished veterans prompted SEMA to
take
appropriate action to remember Lohn.
"The SEMA Scholarship Fund ranks as one of the most noteworthy projects
maintained
by the association, and Els was an avid supporter of the program that helps
students
in pursuit of higher education," Blum said. "Els was one of the most dedicated
of
the SEMA founders. He worked tirelessly and unselfishly for SEMA because he
cared
about the industry and our premier annual event, the SEMA Show. I am pleased
and
very honored to announce this special scholarship fund."
In 1961 Lohn gathered the principals of two dozen companies together to form
the
association. It was a small, dedicated group of concerned business owners who
feared
that unwarranted regulations could and would ruin their automotive performance
equipment businesses. Two years later, SEMA was formed to protect small
companies
against the threat of overregulation-the same mission maintained by SEMA
today.
Lohn was often honored for his many and varied contributions to industry
progress.
He was inducted into the distinguished SEMA Industry Hall of Fame in 1965; he
was
voted SEMA Person of the Year in 1976; and he was knighted by the prestigious
order
of St. John of Jerusalem Knights in 1990.
Contributions of more than $100 may be designated to the Lohn fund. Checks
payable
to the Els Lohn Memorial Scholarship Fund should be sent to SEMA, P.O. Box
4910,
Diamond Bar, Calif., 91765-0910. All contributions are tax-deductible.
SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, represents the $25 billion
specialty automotive industry. The trade association has more than 4,900
member
companies. It is the authoritative source of research data, trends and market
growth
information for automakers and the specialty auto products industry. The
industry
provides appearance, performance, comfort, convenience and technology products
for
passenger cars, minivans, trucks, SUVs and recreational vehicles. For more
information, contact SEMA at 1575 S. Valley Vista Dr., Diamond Bar, Calif.
91765-
3914; call 909/396-0289; or visit <www.sema.org > or <www.enjoythedrive.com>.
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