S.G. Walker Jr., 91, of Knoxville, Tenn., died March 20, 2022. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. Walker also owned and operated AAA Rental Center in Knoxville from the day he started it in the 1960s until he sold the business and retired in 1989. Walker was very involved in the American Rental Association (ARA). In 1977, he was elected as Region Three director, then became ARA vice president in 1982, before moving up the ranks to serve as president in 1984 and chair in 1985.
Walker attended most of ARA’s National Legislative Caucuses in Washington, D.C., during his tenure. He also played a role in ARA’s entry into the insurance market. Walker served on the board of the American Rental Dealers
Insurance (ARDI), now ARA Insurance, from 1983-1994.
In addition, he was instrumental in the formation of the Rental Equipment Industry Foundation (REIF), now the ARA Foundation, as well as ARA’s state association program.
Walker had been named the Region Three Person of the Year in 1974 and received the Distinguished Service Award in 1989.
His volunteer service and commitment to the rental industry also led to his induction into the Rental Hall of Fame in 2004.
In the March 2004 issue of Rental Management, he said the best advice he ever received was, “Don’t be afraid to borrow money to buy equipment and don’t worry about the interest rate as long as you are making money. Treat your suppliers, customers and employees as you would like to be treated.”
He also said the most valuable lesson he learned was “the more I volunteered to serve with ARA, the more I learned about the rental business. I was always learning something I could use in my rental store when I got back home because in the rental business everyone is really friendly and shares information with each other. If I could offer any advice to the young generation and new members, it would be to get involved in ARA by volunteering and attend all of the meetings you can. You will learn more than you can imagine.”
Walker is survived by his wife, Rose Walker; and daughter, Pamela Walker.