Biography of Author Al Hesselbart 
“The Dumb Things Sold Just Like That…A History of the RV Industry in America”
A former police officer, not-for-profit executive, teacher, and salesman, Al Hesselbart has had a widely varied career.
A native of Michigan and graduate of Michigan State University, he was an officer with the Michigan State University Department of Public Safety for 5 years and also served on the faculty of the Mid-Michigan Police Academy. Following that, he turned to the not-for-profit sector, joining the Boy Scouts of America as a national field worker. He led summer camps and outdoor activities for more than fifteen years. In the 1980s, he enjoyed great success in automobile sales at an import car dealership in Elkhart, Indiana.
Hesselbart’s next professional foray would draw on his knowledge of automobiles, his success in the not-for-profit sector and his knowledge of the outdoors. In 1994, Carl A. Ehry, president of the RV/MH Heritage Foundation asked Hesselbart to become the general manager for the organization. Somewhere in his tenure with the organization, the duties of historian were added to his responsibilities. When Hesselbart began with the organization, its offices were located in a 20,000-square-foot warehouse/office complex on Benham Ave. in Elkhart. At that time, the Foundation had just begun to acquire its collection of historical artifacts. Hesselbart gradually increased its holdings, adding slide and photographic collections from industry enthusiasts, and completing the collection of historical periodicals. Along the way, Al Hesselbart became one of the foremost authorities on the history of the Recreational Vehicle and Manufactured Housing industries. He has written articles for national magazines and newspapers and been quoted as an authority in the New York Times, U.S.A. Today, Reuters news service and the Associated Press. He has appeared in documentaries on both industries that have appeared on the Travel Channel, Home and Garden Channel, CMT, PBS, and Canada’s HistoryTV and at large RV rallies and events around the country.
The book is on sale now at www.legacyinkpublishing.com/
Al recently took the time to answer some questions about writing this book, his family and his work at the Heritage Foundation. For that interview, go here.
For more information, contact the author at the RV/MH Heritage Foundation, 574-293-2344 or via email at rvmhall@aol.com. Or contact Marsha Newsom, Legacy Ink Publishing, at http://www.legacyinkpublishing.com.
