FORT WORTH, Texas — Veteran rentalman Don O'Neal, whose Fort Worth, Texas-based A-1 Rentals was one of the largest independently owned rental companies in the United States before he sold it to NationsRent in October of 1998, is planning to return to the rental business next month, according to a report in the online version of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

According to the recently published report, O'Neal recently bought a 9-acre Fort Worth site with a 24,000-square-foot showroom that previously housed a business called Texas Patios. O'Neal told the publication that he will open a new rental business in February 2004 called Rental One, which will have eight employees and offer a full line of small, medium and large construction and industrial equipment for rent.

O'Neal essentially grew up in the rental business, taking over A-1, which was founded by his father Ray O'Neal. After selling the business to NationsRent, O'Neal served as that company's president for a period of time. O'Neal was one of the industry's most highly respected owner-operators and his return to the industry has been eagerly anticipated by some rental industry participants.