FREDERICK, MD – Recognizing a lifetime of dedication to the auction business and service to the industry, the National Auto Auction Association (NAAA) inducted Larry Brasher into the NAAA Hall of Fame at the Association’s 57th Annual Convention held in Phoenix, Ariz., last month.

With many members of the Brasher family looking on, Larry’s son, John, took the podium at the convention to introduce his father and recognize his years of service to the auction industry.

“One doesn’t have to look far to see his fingerprints on our industry,” John said. “Through his dedication, he has established a great example; professionally, personally, and spiritually leading the way for those who are following behind.”

Brasher was selected as the 2005 Hall of Fame Inductee by the Association’s Nominating Committee, comprised of the five most recent presidents of the NAAA and chaired by Tony Long, NAAA Chairman of the Board.

“Larry represents the best of what all NAAA auctions stand for,” said Long. “He’s a respected business man, an admired family man, and one of the great minds in the industry. When we looked at all he has contributed to the industry, not to mention the legacy that he has placed before us with his family and the impact they’ve made on the industry, naming him to the Hall of Fame was a no-brainer. With this year’s convention in the West, it was a suitable time to do something that was long overdue.”

Brasher grew up in the auction business, learning the ropes from his father, Frank Brasher, who founded the Salt Lake Auto Auction in 1949. After working nearly every position at the auction in his youth, Larry went to work for the Salt Lake Auction full-time in 1975. He moved to California in 1978 to operate the Sacramento Auto Auction. In 1980, Larry, his father, and his brother Jay started the Southern California Auto Auction in Fontana, which they sold to General Electric Auto Auctions in 1986. Since then, Larry has acquired the Northwest Auto Auction in Eugene, Oregon in 1990, opened the Cascade Auto Auction in Portland in 1993 and launched the Reno Auto Auction in 2000 with brother, Jay.

With a lifelong commitment to improving the auction industry, Larry has been an active, involved member of the NAAA throughout his auction career. He served as president of the NAAA in 1998, becoming the first son of a former NAAA president to serve as president himself (he also follows his father to the NAAA Hall of Fame). He has also served on several committees and task forces, and played a key role in developing the NAAA Structural Damage Policy, which has now become an industry standard.

He is also former president of the Western Auto Auction Association, is a founding member of ServNet, and was instrumental in the organization of Auto Auction Services Corp., serving as the company’s first president.

“The list of his activities and contributions goes on and on,” said John, “but his dedication to our industry is clear to all who have been around it for any length of time.”

“Service has been at the center of his life,” continued John. “At a young age, he served a 2-½-year church mission, and throughout life has volunteered numerous hours serving in local church activities, as well as community and youth sports activities, giving of time and means generously to those in need.”

Brasher served a 2-½-year mission for the LDS church in Finland when he was 19 years old. In 2003, he left his auction business in the hands of the next generation (his son John who took his place as head of the corporation, and his son-in-law Mark Bassett who serves as vice president and chief financial officer, as wells as sons Tom, Matt and Ben, who work in various positions) to serve another two years on a full-time church service mission in the Ukraine, Lithuania, and Russia with his wife, Anne.

As John pointed out in his remarks, in spite of his accomplishments in the business world, Brasher’s greatest and proudest accomplishment is his family. He and Anne have been married for 35 years. Together, they have seven children and 11 grandchildren; they look forward to the arrival of 12th grandchild early next year.

“To be inducted into the NAAA Hall of Fame is truly an honor,” said Brasher. “I will be forever grateful to my father and mother for giving me the opportunity to be involved in this business, and for the example of integrity, hard work and commitment which they set for us. It has been a privilege and satisfaction to work with our many friends in the NAAA to improve and promote the auto auction industry, and I look forward to more opportunities to serve and associate with them. Of course, I am also very proud and gratified to see the third generation of our family be so involved in the auction business and in the NAAA, and to carry on the family tradition.”