Update:  Jim Summers Memorial Service Set for Nov. 22

A memorial service for James B. Summers, the former Executive Vice President of RVDA who passed away in October, is scheduled for Monday, November 22, at 2:30 p.m.  The address is:

Rice Estate (formerly known as the Rice Home)
100 Finley Road
Columbia, SC  29203
(803) 691-5720

The RV Learning Center has set up a memorial fund in Jim’s honor.  Click here for more information. 

October 4, 2010 News Release:

RVDA regrets to inform the membership that James B. Summers, Sr., passed away on Sunday, Oct. 3, in Columbia, SC.  Summers was RVDA’s chief staff leader for a decade, serving as Executive Vice President from 1976 to 1986.

During his tenure, Jim worked with volunteer dealer leaders to reorganize the association and led RVDA through the challenging gas crisis of the late 1970’s.  He also played a key role in the founding of the American Recreation Coalition in the early 1980s.   RVDA annually presents the James B. Summers Award in his honor to a distinguished dealer.   He was elected to the RV/MH Hall of Fame in 2002.

“With Jim’s passing, RVDA and the RV industry have truly lost one of our great leaders,” said RVDA President Mike Molino.  “He established a number of RVDA programs in government relations, dealer-manufacturer relations, and professional development that will serve as a lasting legacy to his memory.   Jim was a valuable mentor to many, a dear friend, and great American.”

Jim was born July 22, 1921 the only child of Clarence J. and Erma N. Summers.  He spent his early years in Syracuse, NY, where he was boy’s city tennis champion. Jim graduated from Eastwood High School and earned a degree in geology from Hamilton College, Clinton, NY, lettering in hockey, tennis and golf.  In 1943 Jim enlisted in the United States Navy and served as a lieutenant JG and gunnery officer on the mine sweeper the USS Hogan.   He was part of six major invasions in the South Pacific during 27 months at sea.

Following the war, Jim began a long career in sales and the transportation industry at Oneida Products in Canastota, NY.  In 1959, he accepted a position as general manager of Superior Coach Corporation in Lima, OH, rising to Vice President of Sales and Group Vice President, Marketing of its parent company Sheller Globe Corporation.  He helped build the company into the largest school bus, funeral car, and ambulance manufacturer in the world and established its motorhome division.  In 1974, Jim left the corporate world and joined with two colleagues to start a new company, NBS, Inc which designed, manufactured, and sold a variety of novel household products. Two years later, he moved to Washington D.C. to become the Executive Vice President of RVDA. 

Jim retired to Columbia, SC, in 1986 to pursue his primary passion of golf fulltime.  Having been taught the game at the age of six, he continued to play avidly well into his 80s.  Jim married Elizabeth J. (Betty) Daratt in 1948.  They remained devoted companions for nearly 62 years.  He also leaves a son, James B. Summers, Jr. (Sherry) of Libertyville, IL, and three grandchildren.

Derrick Crandall, president of the American Recreation Coalition remembered Jim as a great outdoor recreation advocate. "Jim was irrepressible, committed to the RV lifestyle and the great outdoors and a champion of teamwork to take on the projects that would make a difference. He was centrally involved in the recreation community’s response to the energy emergencies of the 1970’s and a champion for the creation of the American Recreation Coalition, to unify interests ranging from NASCAR and the RV industry, ski areas and Disney, recreational boating and park concessioners to argue at the highest levels of government that people need recreation, and the government shouldn’t try to decide on whether some forms of recreation were better than others. His energy, his positive outlook, helped build a team that not only protected recreation from threats of gas rationing and penalty taxes but opened the door to an new era of recreation promotion involving scenic byways, better campgrounds on federal lands managed by concessioners, a warm welcome to RVers and others who wanted to be volunteers in parks and better funding for interpretation and visitor centers. He was equally at home talking with RVers are rallies and Members of the President’s Cabinet – because he was a passionate believer that the Great Outdoors was great for Americans of all ages, all backgrounds," Crandall continued.  “Jim’s spirit remains with us in awards presented in his name and our vivid memories. He was one of the original members of the American Recreation Coalition board of directors. We’ll miss him, for sure.”