SEMA Establishes Els Lohn Memorial Scholarship Fund

SEMA ESTABLISHES ELS LOHN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND

DIAMOND BAR, Calif. -SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, has 
established a new scholarship fund in the memory of Els Lohn, one of the industry's 
most dedicated pioneers, according to Charles R. Blum, president of SEMA, the 
Specialty Equipment Market Association. Lohn has repeatedly been recognized as the 
one-man force behind the organization of the original SEMA, the Speed Equipment 
Manufacturers Association, chartered in 1963. Lohn succumbed to heart failure on 
Jan. 1, 2002, following a brief illness. He was 75 years of age.

The loss of one of the industry's most distinguished veterans prompted SEMA to take 
appropriate action to remember Lohn.

"The SEMA Scholarship Fund ranks as one of the most noteworthy projects maintained 
by the association, and Els was an avid supporter of the program that helps students 
in pursuit of higher education," Blum said. "Els was one of the most dedicated of 
the SEMA founders. He worked tirelessly and unselfishly for SEMA because he cared 
about the industry and our premier annual event, the SEMA Show. I am pleased and 
very honored to announce this special scholarship fund."

In 1961 Lohn gathered the principals of two dozen companies together to form the 
association. It was a small, dedicated group of concerned business owners who feared 
that unwarranted regulations could and would ruin their automotive performance 
equipment businesses. Two years later, SEMA was formed to protect small companies 
against the threat of overregulation-the same mission maintained by SEMA today.

Lohn was often honored for his many and varied contributions to industry progress. 
He was inducted into the distinguished SEMA Industry Hall of Fame in 1965; he was 
voted SEMA Person of the Year in 1976; and he was knighted by the prestigious order 
of St. John of Jerusalem Knights in 1990.

Contributions of more than $100 may be designated to the Lohn fund. Checks payable 
to the Els Lohn Memorial Scholarship Fund should be sent to SEMA, P.O. Box 4910, 
Diamond Bar, Calif., 91765-0910. All contributions are tax-deductible.