Rush Enterprises, Inc. announced that its founder W. Marvin Rush died Thursday, May 17, at the age of 79. Rush founded the company in 1965 and served on its Board of Directors from its incorporation until August 2016. Marvin Rush also served as Rush CEO from its founding through 2006.
W. Marvin Rush (left), speaking to then-candidate (now Oklahoma governor) Mary Fallin at the grand opening almost a decade ago of the Rush Truck Centers Oklahoma City facility.Current Chairman, President and CEO W.M. “Rusty” Rush expressed “deep sadness” at the loss of his father. “With his entrepreneurial spirit, larger-than-life personality and leadership, the company grew from a single GMC truck franchise in Houston, Texas, to the largest commercial vehicle dealership group in North America. Along the way, the company became the first automotive dealership group to go public, in June of 1996.
“Words cannot begin to express how much I loved and admired my father. I learned so many valuable lessons from my dad about business, life, family and how to treat people with respect throughout my more than 40 years of working for and beside him. My dad was a very special person who impacted me, our family, our employees, our customers and countless others in more ways than I could ever describe in a press release. I am very blessed and grateful to have had such an amazing father, and I will miss him dearly.”
