Press Release (UNEDITED): North Andover, MA– The Mobile Electronics Association proudly introduces the inaugural class of the Mobile Electronics Industry Hall of Fame, honoring individuals whose contributions have profoundly shaped the industry.
Selected by a distinguished nomination committee, including executive leadership from the Mobile Electronics Association, this first class is dedicated in memoriam of the manufacturing sector.
The Class of 2024 inductees are:
• Jim Fosgate (Rockford Fosgate)
• Larry Fredrick (Cicada)
• Reese Haggott (Alpine)
• Loyd Ivey (Mitek)
• Rob Limbaugh (Kicker)
• Tom Malone (Voxx)
• Kevan Morris (Pioneer)
• Clyde Podraza (Dual)
• Michael Somma (Metra)
“These visionary leaders have left an indelible mark on the mobile electronics industry,” said Chris Cook, President of the Mobile Electronics Association. “Their innovations, entrepreneurial spirit, and dedication have shaped the landscape of our industry and continue to inspire future generations.”
The Mobile Electronics Industry Hall of Fame will now follow a process where future inductees will be selected through a membership voting system following nominations. Nominees must be retired individuals who have significantly impacted or left a positive influence on the mobile electronics industry.
Family and friends of the esteemed inductees will accept the Hall of Fame awards on their behalf at a special ceremony on Saturday, September 21, 2024 during KnowledgeFest at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. MEA Chairman Tony Frangiosa emphasized, “MEA members attending KnowledgeFest are invited to join us and witness the accomplishments of these
industry icons who paved the way.
For more information about the Mobile Electronics Industry Hall of Fame and to learn more about the inductees, please visit meindustryawards.com.
Definitely in the Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas market “DOC THUNDER” George Reed, he’s the reason this market is as big as it is still today!!!
There is another key person who helped build our entire industry from the very beginning who I and many others think should be considered – Frank Pyle Jr. of the famous “Pyle Driver Speakers” who was a major manufacturer of some of the best high power subwoofers, car stereo speakers, musical instrument speakers and show cars from the late 70’s to the early 2000’s. Being a true manufacturer, we also made the product lines of some of the other top key brand names in our industry whom many of them are still in business today. Frank and his father Frank Pyle Sr. who originally founded Utah Electronics in Huntington, IN were true pioneers in the electronics industry.
Those are good but look at the manufacturer’s reps that were before then and worked tirelessly to build these lines into the major factors that they become. Foot soldiers preaching the sermon and getting dealers to buy into what we were preaching back in the late 1970’s & early years of 1980’s.
Just off the top of my head we built big car audio systems, held dealer events on the weekend Crank It Up’s and showed people what was now available beside the Am/Fm Cassette the CD, Woofers, Tweets, Mid bass & The Amplifiers to power these systems. Remembering
George Reed.- DOC THUNDER & myself.
This is a wonderful list of industry legends!