That’s Right Nate

Silo outside Faith Tabernacle Church in Bixby, OK

I’m going to be suspending the blog for almost a week as my daughter Emily and I take a vacation I’ve dreamed about for a long time.   When I was 13 years old I literally ate, drank, and slept self storage.   Unfortunately, Emily doesn’t seem to have the same passion for the family business that I do.  Her main passion seems to be eating and I assured her we’d stop at plenty of good restaurants.   Regardless, this is my chance to really ignite her passion in the self storage industry, which I believe is the key to america’s survival in the coming decades.   Hopefully, along the way, we’ll have some precious father and daughter memories.

In planning the trip I started with the innugural class of the Self Storage Hall of Fame from 2005.  Just reading their names you can feel the history:

Frank Blumeyer, Sr. – Founder, Storage Inns. Blumeyer opened his first self storage facility in 1973 and made significant contributions to the industry in the areas of design and marketing. In the early years of the SSA, Blumeyer went out of his way to work with novice operators to help establish an educated and efficient industry. (Blumeyer and his business are in St. Louis.   We’re so there)

Gordon Burnam – Founder, Storage Mart. Burnam happened on a self storage facility in 1974, while vacationing with family. He opened one facility in the college town of Columbia, MO and within a few years had 14 stores in eight states. Burnam was one of the first in the self storage sector to take his company public. (Columbia, is not that far from St. Louis.)

Daniel Curtis – Curtis was a fighter pilot and an engineer who became an entrepreneur when he recognized the need to satisfy building demands in self storage. His metal products and door designs have been adopted throughout the country in storage facilities.  (A hero of mine.  You can’t beat the combination of fighter pilot and self storage giant)

Hardy Good – Founder, MiniCO, Inc. During the past four decades Good has filled many needs of the self storage community, chief among them insurance and publishing. He has also been a supporter and participant in Self Storage Association activities since its founding. (Hardy is a living legend and though Phoenix is a drive, I’m really looking forward to seeing him)

Harold Leslie – Leslie Industries, Inc. A charter SSA member while working for Piper Industries, Inc., Leslie refined the standing  seam steel roof concept, now common in self storage construction. His own company, Leslie Industries, has been a leading self storage builder for more than three decades. (I’ve heard my dad tell of the days before the Standing Seam Steel Roof and Harold Leslie is a giant, but we won’t be visiting him).

Edmund Olson – A-American Self Storage, Inc. Olson owned Gunite Construction in 1973, when he saw a “mini-warehouse” on a trip to Phoenix, AZ. His first self storage facility soon followed, in Canoga Park, CA. A-American Self Storage is now the 8th largest operator in the business with 102 facilities in several states. (Unfortunately, California is too far)

Arthur “Buzz” Victor – Founder, United Stor-All. The patriarchrof the SSA created the Association after searching for other operators with whom to share ideas, establish standards and advocate pro-storage positions. Victor served as the first President of the SSA from 1975 to 1977. The Mini Storage Alarm Company was also an early creation of Victor’s, formed when he recognized that fences and locks were not enough to satisfy the security demands of tenants. (I’m not a fan of Mr. Victor.  I believe that is enough said)

I mentioned meeting up with Martin Loviglio at the GRPSEC.  In my mind it’s a travesty that neither Martin Loviglio who is the founder of modern storage facility management nor John Peele who was the pioneer of self storage in the Great Lakes Region have yet to be recognized.  We’ll be meeting up with Martin Loviglio in Bixby, Oklahoma.  Hopefully, he won’t mind putting us up for a couple of days.

I apologize in advance for missing the next week of posting, but exposing my daughter to the wonders of self storage and some quality time alone is worth it.   I’m hoping I can take advantage of the long ride bettween Bixby and Phoenix to discuss her weight with her.

I really hate to take this blog up with family business when Obama is currently threatening this great country, but since Steve has refused to acknowledge that he received payment not once, but three times for a present he bought for an aunt I don’t even like, I thought I would post the canceled check online as he had demanded I do.  This should put an end to any further nasty rumors or speculation.