The SEMA Hall of Fame

SEMA News—August 2019

PEOPLE

By John Stewart

The SEMA Hall of Fame

A 50-Year Perspective

In honor of the SEMA Hall of Fame’s first inductee, Hall of Fame honors were originally called the Paul Schiefer “Old Timer’s Memorial Award.”

The year 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the SEMA Hall of Fame. Created in 1969, the Hall of Fame is the association’s highest recognition, established to honor outstanding persons in the automotive specialty-equipment industry whose creativity, dignity, industriousness and accomplishments have enhanced the stature of, and significantly contributed to, the industry’s growth.

In honor of the Hall’s first inductee, Hall of Fame honors were originally called the Paul Schiefer “Old Timer’s Memorial Award.” The award was named for one of SEMA’s original founding members, who pioneered safer flywheels and clutch assemblies for racing. The “old timer’s” reference alluded to a board directive that the award honor founders of the industry, since one of the criteria for the SEMA Hall of Fame award is that the candidate must have been involved in the industry and/or association for a minimum of 10 years.

In 1986, the award came to be known simply as the SEMA Hall of Fame. Though the name changed, the original intent did not. To this day, the award continues to honor and pay tribute to the leaders and legends who helped make the automotive specialty-equipment market an industry worth in excess of $44 billion annually.

Inductees are selected by a committee of their peers, who annually accept nominations and undertake the difficult task of selecting new members—an elite few without whom the industry would not be where it is. Some are pioneers; some became iconic through their work; others improved the industry through their generosity and commitment to service; but all set positive examples and made indelible contributions to the industry on a national or international scale.

In any given year, it’s not unusual for three or four people to earn induction into the Hall of Fame. New inductees are announced at the annual SEMA Installation & Gala, a prominent event that attracts a who’s who of the industry.

Later in the year, the individuals honored with Hall of Fame commendation are recognized at the SEMA Awards Banquet during the annual SEMA Show. The award’s custom-designed trophy is regarded as one of the most admired and sought-after in the automotive aftermarket.

Collectively, the Hall of Fame award recipients chronicle the history of the industry, which SEMA News celebrates by including images of every inductee in this issue. Complete profiles and photo galleries of the inductees can be found at www.semahof.com.

Matt Agosta, 2016	Bob Airheart, 1993	Don Alderson, 2001
Joe Amato, 1998	Brian Appelgate, 2003	Nick Arias Jr., 2012
Zora Arkus-Duntov, 1973	Joel Ayres, 2015	Tom Babcox, 1982
Lou Baney, 1992	Don "Bud" Barnett, 1994	George Barris, 2013
John Bartlett, 1981	Gray Baskerville, 2011	Sandy Belond, 1981
Jim Bingham, 2015	Keith Black, 1986	Raymond Bleiweis, 2008
Chuck Blum, 1997	Chuck Bobins, 1980	Steve Bolio, 2006
Louis Borick, 1995	Dan Borré, 1990	Jim Borré, 2000
Ray Brock, 1994	Paul "Scooter" Brothers, 2005	Ray Brown (right), 1991
Robert Cahill, 1997	Ben Nighthorse Campbell, 2008	"Honest Charley" Card, 1970
GiGi Carleton, 2017	Dick Cepek, 1983	Bob Chandler, 2019
Pete Chapouris, 1999	Art Chrisman, 2011	Boyd Coddington, 1995
Corky Coker, 2008	Ronald Coleman, 2000	Robert Cook, 2008
Nile Cornelison, 2014	Jim Cozzie, 2014	Harvey J. Crane Jr., 1981
Bruce Crower, 2019	Dick Day, 1990	Russ Deane, 2007
Jim Diest, 1984	Murray Diamond, 1992	Howard Douglas, 1988
Donnie Eatherly, 2018	Chris Economaki, 2011	Vic Edelbrock Jr., 1989
Vic Edelbrock Sr., 1977	Ed Elliott, 1974	George Elliott, 1990
Doug Evans, 2017	Amy Faulk, 2002	Herb Fishel, 2005
Chip Foose, 2016	George Foote, 1984	Donna Imrie Foulger, 1982
Bill France Sr., 2012	Ron Funfar, 2007	Dennis Gage, 2015
Don Garlits, 1980	Willie Garner, 1976	Angelo Giampetroni, 1993
Harvey Goldberg, 1992	Jack Goldstein (right), 1979	Andy Granatelli (center), 2001
Eric Grant, 2013	Ted Halibrand, 1983	Kenny Harman, 1979
Jack Harris, 1981	C.J. "Pappy" Hart, 1981	Jack Hart, 1978
Bill Hays	Bob Hedman, 1987	Mark Heffington, 2012
Harry Hibler, 2002	Stuart Hilborn, 1996	Stan Hiltz, 1985
Dennis Holding, 1997	Gary Hooker, 2016	Joe Hrudka, 1980
George Hurst (in coat), 1978	Ed Iskenderian, 1978	Leo Kagan, 1982
Wade Kawasaki, 2013	Bob Keller, 2004	Jim Kerr, 1996
Sheldon Konblett, 1986	Arnold Kuhns, 2002	Walter “Butch” Lahmann, 1995
Bob Larivee Sr., 2012	Burke LeSage (right), 2005	Roy Leslie, 1972
Jerry Light, 1983	Ray Lipper, 2002	Els Lohn, 1985
Boots Mallory, 1978	Dick Martin, 1993	Dick Maxwell, 2006
Dave McClelland, 1994	Jim McFarland, 2001	Bob McJannett, 2003
Richard “Dick” McMullen, 2010	Barry Meguiar, 2017	John Menzler, 2014
Dean Moon, 1988	Marla Moore, 2019	Dick Moroso, 1999
Fred C. Offenhauser, 2014	Carl Olson, 1991	Wally Parks, 1979
Bob Patteri, 1999	Bill Perry, 2009	Robert E. Petersen, 1981
Vince Piggins, 1991	Ed Pink, 2018	Joe Pisano, 1992
Don Prudhomme, 1997	Don Raleigh, 1989	Alan Reed, 1991
Roy Richter, 1974	Marvin Rifchin, 2003	P.G. “Red” Roberts, 2000
Rick Rollins, 2006	John Scafidi Sr., 1998	Paul Schiefer, 1969
Joe Schubeck, 2013	Chuck Schwartz, 2010	Louis Senter, 1978
Tom Shedden, 1983	Carroll Shelby, 1986	Nate Shelton, 2007
Ben Sigman, 1987	John Simmons, 2004	Bill Simpson, 1988
Bill Smith, 1984	Don Smith, 1987	Bob Spar, 1981
Bill Stroppe, 1985	Mickey Thompson, 1984	Chris Thomson, 2018
John Towle, 2011	Charlie Van Cleve, 2004	Dick Van Cleve, 1996
Bob Vandergriff, 2003	Jim Vaughn, 1981	Linda Vaughn, 1985
Thurston Warn, 1986	Harry Weber, 1978	Joan Weiand, 1995
Phil Weiand, 1975	Dick Wells (right), 1993	Ed Winfield, 1971
Jim Wirth, 2004	Van Woodell, 2010	Steve Woomer, 1999
Rolan "Jeep" Worthan, 2009	Henry “Smokey” Yunick, 2009	Alex Xydias, 1982