Ron Hughes, vice president-national accounts for Xtra Lease, has passed away at the age of 63 following a short illness, the company announced.
Hughes owned his own trucking company – Hughes Enterprises – from 1976 through 1983 before taking a job with RentCo in Knoxville, TN. It was at Rentco, a predecessor to Xtra Lease, that Hughes began his career as a salesman.
A 27-year career with Xtra Lease followed, highlighted by his years as a sales executive calling on some of the largest fleets in the Southeast, including UPS, Home Depot, Landstar Ranger and more.
During his career, Hughes moved from Knoxville to Birmingham, AL, to Jacksonville, Fla., and eventually to Atlanta as he climbed the professional ladder within Xtra Lease. He held positions as branch manager, regional sales manager, regional vice president and vice president-national accounts.
In 1999, Hughes received the President’s Award at Xtra Lease for his performance.
“Ron invented our ‘street-corner strategy’; he understood our values and presented them, in the form of himself, to our customers. These customers rented trailers from Ron – the equipment just happened to have our logo on the side,” said Bill Franz, Xtra Lease president & CEO.
Hughes attended East Tennessee State University and graduated from Clinch Valley College in Wise, VA, in 1970 with BA in business. He worked as a school counselor in Wise from 1974-76, Xtra Lease said.
Hughes is survived by his wife, Abby; and three children: Brandi, William and George.
