09.04.2014
Russ Guthery 1940 - 2014
We have received the sad news that aerial lift industry veteran Russ Guthery, who worked in the self-propelled aerial lift industry from its earliest days, has died after suffering a heart attack at his home near Fresno, California, on Tuesday, April 8th. He was 73.
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Russ Guthery on one his Bandit scissor lifts
Guthery started his lift career in southern California with A-1 Machinery Rentals, which was owned by Bob Irving, in 1970 Irving set up Mark Industries to design and build self-propelled scissor lifts after John Parker had re-joined the company following and 18 month spell with Selma Manlift (Later Grove Manlift). Mark Industries shipped its first 'Parkerlift' later that year, and went on to become a market leader.
As an engineer, designer and marketeer Guthery worked with Dick Moyer who joined Mark Industries in 1975, and later moved with him to Weber Products - the manufacturer of the Bandit scissor lifts and the Placer telehandler - where he was chief engineer, before transferring to Condor/Calavar in Waco, Texas after it acquired the Bandit designs in 1990. He remained with Calavar until he retired.
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(L-R) Tom Gross John Parker and Russ Guthery with a three wheeled, Parker Lift 10SP sold in 1970 to Pete Simons of Badgerland Equipment in Milwaukee
The following was statement was received from one of his many work colleagues:
“As far as a title or job description goes he covered a wide range, Concept/Engineer/R&D/Marketing. His accomplishments are too numerous to list. He loved working projects from the ground up, a blank sheet of paper so to speak. Asked ‘how did you come up with that Russ?’ He would point to a little chalk drawing on the floor, ‘There’s the blueprint, and you better copy it before we sweep'."
"He truly lived one day at a time and made the most of every day. He loved to play golf at the crack of dawn before the first green was even mowed. He was well known in the industry and well-liked by all that knew him.”
Guthrey is survived by his wife Pat, three daughters, Debbie, Chick and Laurie, 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
The funeral service will be held on Wednesday April 16th at 10:00 at:
Wallin’s Fowler Funeral Home
302 East Merced Street
Fowler, California 93625
(559) 834-2531
John Jr Parker
A true Pioneer and mentor to many. By the grace of God, he had a gift as a tinkerer, you gave him some steel and an idea, he could build it.
I am currently looking at a photograph dated in 1970, of John Parker Sr, Russ Guthrey and Tom Gross holding a bottle of champagne and standing in front of the first small self propelled scissorlift, a Parkerlift 10SP. The unit was delivered to Pete Simons of Badgerland Equipment, Milwaukee Wisconsin. From idea to market in 10 months.