ARA names 2024 Rental Hall of Fame inductees

Photo: ARA

The American Rental Association (ARA) has announced the 2025 inductees into its Rental Hall of Fame.

The ARA said that Bick Jones, Peter Lancken AM and David Wilcox II will be be celebrated for their “exceptional contributions to the equipment and event rental industry” during The ARA Show 2025 in Las Vegas in January.

Starting in the event rental industry in 1986 after a career in banking, Jones lead several rental businesses, including Cannonball Party Rental, Ducky-Bob’s Party and Tent Rental and Marquee Events.

Throughout his career, Jones also contributed to ARA committees and panels, earning multiple accolades, including the ARA Rental E-Web Award. Post-retirement, he continues to share his expertise by supporting his son’s tent rental business in Houston.

Based in Australia, Lancken’s career began in 1978 with scaffolding company GKN, with which he later set up a rental business for GKN in southern California.

Following the divestment of the GKN business in Australia, he agreed to buy the balance of GKN from Andy Kennard. It was at this time that his career with Kennards Hire in Australia started, soon after becoming managing director of the Kennards Group.

During his time with the company, he is attributed with creating a national footprint with the Kennards Hire brand and developing a network of branches around the country. He also served as president of the NSW Hire Association and was a founding director of Australia’s Hire and Rental Industry Association (HRIA).

He became involved with the ARA in the 1990’s and is also a founding member of the Global Rental Alliance.

Wilcox, who co-founded General Rental Center in 1977 alongside his father, was a charter member of the ARA of Kentucky and attended the chapter’s first meeting, served on its board of directors and remains involved through the present day.

He spearheaded regular trips of Kentucky members to the U.S. Capitol to advocate for pro-rental policies and was a longtime participant in ARA’s National Legislative Caucus in Washington, D.C.

Wilcox served as ARA Region Five director from 1996-1999 and served on several ARA committees and task forces at the national level. He was also elected ARA vice president in 1999, moved up the ranks to serve as the association’s 41st president in 2002 and chaired the board in 2003.