Who would you say has been the most influential person in concrete pumping as a whole  up to this point. and why? 

good question, i think it would be hard to name just one because each region has had its own pioneers most who are no longer with us,but as an industry I would think Schwing has probably influenced this industry in the most positive manner,the ACPA is great and all,I just feel Schwing has done more for operators in general and making this industry a safer one with there operator friendly equipment and there technology is second to none,theres alot of people that are gone that didnt get a whole lot of credit because they werent searching for notoriety,James Teague had the first concrete pump in Baton Rouge and to my recollection louisiana,Mike Hines just a great man one I am honored to have worked for for 10 years there wasnt a job that couldnt be done and he was just a good man to work for not that he paid more but he owned 20+ pumps and till the day he died he would still get in the trenches with you whether it was hauling pipe or rebuilding a pump he was usually the first one there and the last one to leave, Ray Smith gave me my first ACPA exam one hell of a guy,thats just a few of them with Ray being the only one left with us I do not think it would be fair to single out one when so many worked in this industry to make it what it is today,but I would have to put Bob rite up there with him for his dedication to this industry we all are still making strides in this industry to get it safer and profitable for all so who knows one day one of our names maybe up there with some of the early pioneers so keep striving to make things better  

Hey Todd: Wasn't ACPA started in the Calif Bay Area? I believe it was started there to organize the raising of prices equilaterlly. The 5 or so big companys( CF&T,Conco, Standridge, Bay Cities,Able Ready & Willing) wanted to add a yardage charge to their prices,and wanted the smaller companys around to go along to keep from being undercut! Bay Area pump owners Glenn Standridge, Jack Beasley, Jim McDonald and James Hubbard were all early Presidents.We used to have Pumper's Picnics every year or so (when the owners weren't fighting) and had kind of a Pumper's Rodeo.

I would have to say that I think that the manufactures have had the most influence over the years.

The guys who started the ACPA

Bill Cross

Richard Obrien

Harvey Hoyer

I know I have missed a few, I think there was 5 or 6 guys that met at the Queen Marry in Long Beach and started the ACPA.

Than I would think that Mike Munch the guy who created the first comical Software for the Concrete Pumping industry. He had a large impact on helping companies get better organize with a billing system.

The ACPA is now lobbying Congress on behalf of the Concrete Pumping industry.

There is my two cents.

I might be wrong but i was told the ACPA was started by Bill Cross, Richard Obrien, Harvey Hoyer and a couple others and the first time they met was at the queen marry in long beach.

That is what i heard anyway.

No contest, Schwing and everyone there.

Petey The Pumper! He's been on every shop wall all accross the country, big and small. 

This is a long shot, I have to mention the victims that have been burned, maimed, and evan lost their lives to this industry. I personally consider them to be very influential. Their loss has brought attention to the safety standards the industry has adopted for guidelines.

Don´t forget Karl Schlecht !

Petee the Pumper is a caricature of a operator who worked for Able,Ready,and Willing Concrete Pumping! His name was Rustee and he ran the first big boom in the US, a Putz 51 on a trailer. It claimed to be the" biggest boom in the world", with the motto "Here's the Beef", soon to be upstaged by the Schwing 52. Now my "history" might be a little sketchy,as the 70's and 80's are a little foggy for me, but I'm pretty sure of my info.

That isn't true at all about the origin of Petey.  A weatherman in Seattle named Bob Hale was paid to draw the logo in 1965 for Ralph's Concrete Pumping.  Later on, when the ACPA had a contest to determine what it's logo would be, someone named Art Chef submitted the logo as his own idea.  The ACPA notified Ralph's to quit using the logo, then, through 1965 newspaper clippings, it was proved that the ACPA got the logo from Ralph's, and the issue was dropped.

cp1

THAT is a great story! Real deal history ;~)