HDRA Loses One of Its Founding Fathers

In 1962 Lloyd Johnson started in the rep business working for Dave Chambers in New Jersey covering the New England territories. As Dave was retiring from the rep business in 1966, Lloyd was asked to take on the lines covering Maine to Virginia. This required a move from New England to New Jersey to be centrally located in order to better service his customers. He took on a partner and the agency of Johnson, Weiss & Associates was formed. Until Mr. Weiss decided to start out on his own 1971.

With many years of experience and great professional and personal friendships established, Lloyd started the agency as it is known today, Equipment Marketing Inc. (EMI). Keeping a territory for himself he hired two additional salesmen to cover an area that by now expanded beyond his dreams. Jack Bennett was hired and worked the New England territory and Gary Johnson, his oldest son, began covering the Southern territory. Lloyd was one of the founding fathers of the Heavy Duty Representative Association in 1973.

By the year 2000, after many miles and many sales calls, Lloyd decided to semi retire from the agency. Ever ready to have a lively discussion, he kept abreast of the business and the industry in general. He always lent his ear if you needed a confidant or advice.

Today, EMI, the company he founded and so tirelessly strove to make a success is run by his son, Gary, who know covers the Central territory, Jeff Kaplan covering the New England territory and Rick Eberts in the Southern territory.

Lloyd passed away on January 3, 2008 and is sadly missed by all.