Highlights - 59th International Auctioneers Conference & Show - Saturday, July 12, 2008

Saturday, July 12, 2008

For Immediate Release
Contact: Chris Longly
(913) 541-8084 ext. 31

NAA Inducts Four into Hall of Fame

John Roebuck, CAI, AARE - Memphis, Tennessee
Randy Ruhter - Hastings, Nebraska
Gary Ryther, CAI - Excelsior Springs, Missouri
The Late Wayne Stewart - Audubon, Iowa

July 12, 2008, Nashville, TN - The National Auctioneers Association (NAA) inducted four new members into its Hall of Fame: John Roebuck, CAI, AARE of Memphis, TN; Randy Ruhter of Hastings, NE; Gary Ryther, CAI of Excelsior Springs, MO; and the late Wayne Stewart of Audubon, IA. Inductees were honored at the 59th International Auctioneers Conference and Show in Nashville. The four were honored at the annual President's Gala.

John Roebuck, CAI, AARE - Memphis, Tennessee
The son of a Mississippi Delta sharecropper, John Roebuck has faced adversity and challenges head on throughout this life. A natural born salesman, John was first introduced to the auction industry as a teenager and always had a desire to pursue the profession in the future. Years later after exploring other professions, John attended the Missouri Auction School in 1981. The founder and president of Roebuck Auctions in Memphis, TN, John has grown his initial small personal property auction company to a global real estate auction force with operations in Memphis, TN and Destin, FL.

The 51st president of the National Auctioneers Association, John has held numerous leadership positions within both the NAA and the National Auctioneers Foundation. One of John's most notable achievements as president of the NAA is the development of its partnership with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis. Under his leadership and guidance, the NAA and its members have raised over $3 million in donations for the charity.

John resides in Memphis with his wife of twenty-seven years, Glenda, and they have four children, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Randy Ruhter - Hastings, Nebraska
Native Nebraskan, Randy Ruhter found his passion for auctioneering at an early age after spending his childhood beside his father at the local livestock auctions. As a young boy, Randy's neighbor, Walter Frickey, a local auctioneer, took him under his wing and taught him the art of the profession. A self-taught auctioneer, Randy began his career as an auctioneer in his early twenties. After successfully organizing an estate auction for his grandfather with his brothers as a young man, the auction's success gained area attention and the community asked that the auction continue. For 37 years, Randy and his family organized the community auction in rural Nebraska, drawing in over 5,000 bidders each year and as many as 13-14 auction rings running at one-time.

Randy owns Ruhter Auction & Realty Inc. in Hastings, NE and specializes in estates, farm machinery and equipment, and real estate auctions. Randy recently expanded the business and opened a second branch in York, NE. Randy conducts auctions throughout the Midwest and holds real estate licenses in Nebraska, Kansas and Wyoming.

Randy was an NAA Director from 1996-1999 during which time he was the Membership Committee Chairman. He is a former member of the NAA Agri Business Council, Government Relations Committee and Gavel Club member in 1997 and 1998. Randy currently chairs the NAA Election Committee. Randy has held previous leadership positions in the Nebraska Auctioneers Association. He was nominated Auctioneer of the Year by the Nebraska Auctioneers Association in 1989.

Randy resides in Prosser, Nebraska with his wife of forty years, Barbara. They have two children and three grandchildren.

Gary Ryther, CAI - Excelsior Springs, Missouri
Education is Gary Ryther's passion when it comes to being an auctioneer. The Excelsior Springs, Missouri auctioneer has been an educator, motivator and mentor to auctioneers across the country throughout his forty-six year career in the industry. Upon leaving the Air Force in 1959, Gary attended the Missouri Auction School and began his career as an auctioneer. Owner of Gary Ryther Auctioneers Inc., Gary's professional achievements also includes ownership of a Sears Catalog Store in Excelsior Springs, MO. Licensed in thirteen states, Mr. Ryther specializes in real estate, construction equipment, firearms, coins, industrial equipment, antiques, collectibles and estate auctions.

Gary has been an instructor with the NAA since 1975 and is a past director with the NAA. Mr. Ryther was inducted into the Missouri Professional Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame in 1989 and has held numerous leadership positions within the association including him being president in 1980.

Gary married his high school sweetheart, Ruthie, and had two children. In 1991, Ruthie passed away after a long battle with cancer. While Ruthie was ill, Gary left his businesses for two years to care for her. During this period, Gary almost lost his business. Gary met his second wife when trying to "sell her" on selling her real estate at auction. Gary married Gail in 1994 and they have been married for fourteen years. Gary and Gail reside in Excelsior Springs, Missouri and together have five children, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.


Wayne Stewart, CAI (Deceased) - Audubon, Iowa
Serving the National Auctioneers Association as its president wasn't a choice to Wayne Stewart, to Wayne it was his duty to serve the association and its members. Impassioned to give back to an association that in his words had done more for his career then words could describe, Mr. Stewart took over the reigns of the association in 1990. The Audubon, Iowa auctioneer entered the profession after years of selling insurance and chose to expand his horizons and entered the profession to sell real estate and personal property at auction. Mr. Stewart graduated from Reppert School of Auctioneering in 1957. During his career as an auctioneer, Wayne conducted over 2,000 auctions with Southwest Iowa Real Estate Co.

In addition to serving as its president, Wayne also served the association as its vice president and director. Wayne was a member of the Iowa Auctioneers Association and an active member of the local, state and National Association of Realtors.

Education was essential to Mr. Stewart. In addition to being an instructor for the NAA, Wayne was an instructor for eight state auctioneer associations, the Iowa Association of Realtors, and taught at Mason City College of Auctioneering.

Wayne passed away on August 25, 1994