Industry Pioneer Jack Decker Dies

Dec. 1, 2004
FRESNO, Calif. — Rental industry pioneer Jack Decker, former owner of Decker Equipment Rental in Fresno, Calif., died last month at the age of 88.

FRESNO, Calif. — Rental industry pioneer Jack Decker, former owner of Decker Equipment Rental in Fresno, Calif., died last month at the age of 88.

After fighting in World War II, Decker discovered the equipment rental business and opened Decker Equipment Rental in Fresno in 1945. Decker, one of the most highly respected California rental pioneers, was president of the California Rental Association in 1961-62, and was presented with the “Rental Man of the Year” award in 1966.

In a recent letter to the California Rental Association, Decker recalled the early days of the industry and compared it to the far more sophisticated industry today. He credited the willingness of rental company owners to share information.

“I remember Mitch Hoxie called a meeting of us in Tucson,” Decker wrote. “He asked us to bring our balance sheets. It turned out that Mitch wanted us to develop operating percentages. Remember, no one had any idea of what were good operating percentages!”