No matter who you talk with, those who knew Joseph “Joey” Ayoub, president of Party Bowl, El Paso, Texas, and Area 7 director on the Texas Rental Association (TRA) board from 2015-2018, focus on the same attributes of the man who died Jan. 23, 2022: his generosity and kindness, his strong business acumen and an infectious laugh that could brighten the whole room.
“I remember that when I was serving as TRA president and trying to coordinate regional meetings around the state, I called Joey. I had never met him before, but I asked if we could host a meeting in his area,” says Willie Strange, former owner of Eagle Rentals, Seguin, Texas, who served as TRA president from 2011-2012 and then as American Rental Association (ARA) Region Four director from 2014-2017.
“Without hesitation, he said yes and asked if we could wait a month because he was moving to a new location that would have more room. I was thrilled. For the meeting, he took care of everything. He picked me up from the airport, was a gracious host who served everyone at the meeting a great dinner and then drove me back to the airport. I was so impressed as he was so kind and generous,” she says.
Well, Strange didn’t let that generosity go unnoticed. “When I was Region Four director, I called him again and said, ‘You know we have never had a director on the TRA board from your area before. Would you think about serving?’ He said El Paso is a long way from where we usually held our meetings, but he eventually agreed. He missed only one meeting, which is a big deal traveling all the way from El Paso. He used to tease me by saying that ‘When Willie calls, you can’t say no.’ I said, ‘See what your kindness got you — another job.’”
Their relationship featured quite a bit of teasing and laughter, she noted. “He teased me a lot. He used to tell me, ‘Willie, sometimes I am afraid to pick up the phone when I see your number.’ Then he would break out into his hearty laugh. He had the best laugh. He could just brighten up your day just by talking with you. His wife, Sue, is like that, too — just great people,” Strange adds.
In regard to sitting on the TRA board, Ayoub contacted ARA Insurance Preferred Agent Leon Kothmann, president, Leon Kothmann Insurance Agency, Arlington, Texas, for his thoughts. “I told him that it would be a good experience and he should do that. I am glad he did,” Kothmann says.
For Kothmann, meetings with Ayoub usually centered around food. “We always had great lunches together in El Paso. He knew all the workers and the owner of the restaurant. Then, each year at the TRA Roundup, Joey and I would get together for breakfast and update his insurance. He ran a very good rental operation. He will be missed.”
That Ayoub would know everyone at the restaurant was no surprise. “He was just an effervescent guy with a ready smile and a great attitude,” remembers Greg Kitchens, general manager, Tomball Rental Center, Tomball, Texas, who served as TRA president from 2016-2017.
Fred Dupy, president, American Party Rental, Austin, Texas, who also served on the TRA board with Ayoub, agrees. “Joey was so genuine and would help anyone,” he says.
It was not just Ayoub’s gregarious nature that stood out to Dupy. It was also his business skills.
“He always had ideas to make our industry better. He was something special,” Dupy says. “At TRA board dinners, I would always try to sit next to him because I wanted to just listen. He had a well-rounded event side rental business. He was so strong in his business as well as in his other business ventures. If I had a question, I knew I could just reach out to him and ask, ‘What do you think about this or that?’ I considered him one of the best resources.”
Dupy says Ayoub was committed to his service on the TRA board. “For someone who was that far from where we had most of our board meetings, he saw it as an obligation and opportunity to attend and be an active board member. TRA was important to him. Not only did he serve as director, but he also served on the Education Committee. He thought he was learning from us, but I was learning from him.”
Besides providing a business sounding board, Dupy says he will miss Ayoub’s generous spirit. “He was such a nice guy. He would help anyone. I am deeply saddened by his passing.”
As was written in his obituary, “Joey was a brilliant businessman and loved his work. His legacy of hard work will live on through Party Bowl. His absence will leave a huge hole in the community, and those who had the honor of knowing him will surely miss his presence. He was always the life of the party. Joey was the most selfless man, always thinking of others. He loved life, loved people and loved his Lord and Savior.” For his rental friends, that is a perfect way to summarize his life and impact.
Ayoub is survived by his wife, Sue Karam Ayoub; daughters Kenya (Alessandro), Salena and Keturah (Lance); and several grandchildren.