WSIADA History

The Washington State Independent Auto Dealers Association (WSIADA) was formed in 1953 by a group of independent auto dealers who wanted to create a better industry. It was not until 1956 that the association had grown to include 150 members that the board of directors was created. The first known officers of the association were Don Medley, Sr. (Tacoma), A.B. Pearson (Everett), James Mercer (Seattle), and Claude Laycock.

In the following year, the association held its first state convention was held in Yakima Washington with the design to be a social meeting between members to get to know each other better and form family friendships that continue to flourish into the 21st century.

Recognized by the N.I.A.D.A. in 1959, the WSIADA has maintained a good relationship with our national counterpart through that time by attending their annual meetings, providing information to Washington dealers, and having several of our own association officers becoming President of NIADA themselves.

In the first seven years of the WSIADA, the officers had presented many challenges and changes to the Washington State Department of Licensing to help modify the rules and regulations that governed the sale of vehicles that are still in effect today including, the separation of the Motor Vehicle Dealer and Miscellaneous Vehicle Dealer Licenses with issued plates accordingly, creation of temporary licensing and recommendations on how to process rebuilt/wrecked vehicles.

In a 1965 newsletter, Board member Harvey Hallahan wrote “Personal Success is dependent on group action.” with regards to the membership activates of the association.

“No association can stand very long without new blood and new talent to combat complacency and indifference.” – Ralph Look, President

1955 – Don K. Medley Sr.	1971 – Howard Vandekieft	1989 – Jim Holder	2008 – Danny Archibald
1956 – A.B. Pearson	1972 – Dick Giovi	1990 – Dave Kuper*	2009 – Bill Heald
1957 – Bill Deupree	1973 – Don Stephens	1992 – John St. Laurent	2011 – Robert Reid
1958 – Morrie Stotsenberg	1974 – Walt Friel	1994 – Jack Morris	2012 – Mo Aliadabi
1959 – Bill DeRango	1975 – Bob Ochsner	1996 – Emil Scarsella	2013 – Randy Fletcher
1960 – D. L. Burd	1976 – Bill Newton	1997 – Robert Reid	2014 – J.T. Curry
1961 – Roger Tallakson	1978 – Howard “Mac” Ruddell*	1998 – Don Castle	2016 – Mo Aliadabi
1962 – Chuck Suvan	1980 – Frank Granat	1999 – Mike Van Dinter	2018 - AJ Hamadian
1963 – Archie Caraway	1981 – Gene Pankey	2000 – Pat Feutz	2020 - Randy Fletcher
1964 – Dick Wyman	1982 – Bill Newton	2001 – Art Manger	2022 - Wasim Azzam
1965 – Ralph Look	1983 – Irv Rohrich*	2002 – John Zukerman
1967 – Eddie Bawyn	1985 – Gary Giacomini	2003 – David Randall
1968 – Joseph W. Rodgers	1986 – Ray Harley	2004 – Bill Heald
1969 – Allan Barry	1987 – Greg Morris	2005 – John Zukerman
1970 – Carl North	1988 – Ray Harley	2006 – Ken Williamson

1955 – Don K. Medley Sr.|
1956 – A.B. Pearson
1957 – Bill Deupree
1958 – Morrie Stotsenberg
1959 – Bill DeRango
1960 – D. L. Burd
1961 – Roger Tallakson
1962 – Chuck Suvan
1963 – Archie Caraway
1964 – Dick Wyman
1965 – Ralph Look
1967 – Eddie Bawyn
1968 – Joseph W. Rodgers
1969 – Allan Barry
1970 – Carl North
1971 – Howard Vandekieft
1972 – Dick Giovi
1973 – Don Stephens
1974 – Walt Friel
1975 – Bob Ochsner
1976 – Bill Newton
1978 – Howard “Mac” Ruddell*
1980 – Frank Granat
1981 – Gene Pankey
1982 – Bill Newton
1983 – Irv Rohrich*
1985 – Gary Giacomini
1986 – Ray Harley
1987 – Greg Morris
1988 – Ray Harley
1989 – Jim Holder
1990 – Dave Kuper*
1992 – John St. Laurent
1994 – Jack Morris
1996 – Emil Scarsella
1997 – Robert Reid
1998 – Don Castle
1999 – Mike Van Dinter
2000 – Pat Feutz
2001 – Art Manger
2002 – John Zukerman
2003 – David Randall
2004 – Bill Heald
2005 – John Zukerman
2006 – Ken Williamson
2008 – Danny Archibald
2009 – Bill Heald
2011 – Robert Reid
2012 – Mo Aliadabi
2013 – Randy Fletcher
2014 – J.T. Curry
2017 – Mo Aliadabi
2019 - AJ Hamadian
2020 - Randy Fletcher
2022 - Wasim Azzam