Through the years, many PROs have seen the photo of the charter board members of the Portable Sanitation Association International (featured above). Who were these individuals? What were their backgrounds? How did their experiences help them to begin a new association in a relatively new industry?
An organizing committee met on Jan. 29, 1971, in Washington, D.C., to discuss the formation of a “nationwide portable chemical toilet operators’ association.” The name chosen at the time was Portable Sanitation Association Inc. — “international” would be added later. Alfred LaGrasse, president, and William Dalton, chairman, of Executives Consultants Inc. in Washington, D.C., were hired to provide support for the new PSA.
The members of the organizing committee were: Irvin Juster of Duane Rentals in Schenectady, New York; James Consolo of Diamond Sani in Brooklyn Heights, Ohio; Robert Churchill Jr. of Churchill’s in Roanoke, Virginia; Stanford Freedman of Able Builders Sanitation in Miami; Les Mayers of Monogram Industries in Los Angeles; Frank Phillips of Jiffie Jonnie in Doraville, Georgia; Bill Stratton of ABC Service Company in San Antonio; Frank Van Balen of Virginia Fiberglass Products in Roanoke; and M.C. Nottingham of M.C. Nottingham Cos. in Irwindale, California.
The first official board meeting was held May 22, 1971, at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. It was here that the first PSA Board of Directors was elected and installed.
What follows over the next few weeks are the stories behind the PSAI charter board members. This amazingly diverse group of individuals came together to form a team that spawned an association that is now 55 years old and international in scope. From a World War II prisoner of war to a potential buyer of a pro hockey team, to a pilot for then-Vice President Lyndon Johnson to an 85-year-old who is still active in our industry today, we owe all these people a debt of gratitude for their hard work, insight, vision and love of our industry.
Part 2, "Meet 1971 PSAI President Irvin Juster, Vice President Stanford Freedman and Treasurer Frank Phillips," can be found here.
