Alexandria, Va. (April 19) – The American International Automobile
Dealers Association (AIADA) has named Wisconsin auto dealer Russell M.
Darrow Jr. as the recipient of its 2023 David F. Mungenast Lifetime
Achievement Award. The award is presented annually by AIADA’s Board of
Directors to an industry leader whose exceptional community spirit and
industry success is similar to that of the award’s beloved namesake.
“Throughout Wisconsin, the Darrow name is synonymous with auto
retailing and community involvement,” said AIADA President & CEO Cody
Lusk. “At AIADA we’re grateful to call Russ a friend and proud to
honor him with this lifetime achievement award. He has spent more than
50 years building his family business and improving the lives of the
people around him, and he is unequivocally deserving of this tribute.”
Darrow got his start selling cars in 1960 at Heiser Ford. He bought
his first dealership in 1965, becoming the youngest Chrysler-Plymouth
dealer in the country at the age of 25. Now, 58 years later, he is the
Founder and Chairman of the Russ Darrow Group, Inc., a family-owned
company that operates 15 automobile dealerships, 23 franchises, a
nationwide fleet and leasing company, and a used car finance company
with seven Wisconsin dealership locations.
Darrow was an active member of the AIADA Board from 1980-2010, serving
as Chairman in 2009. He was one of the winners of AIADA’s and Sports
Illustrated’s 1986 Imported Car Dealers of Distinction Awards. In
2003, he was awarded the AIADA National Impact Award for Excellence
and in 2004 was named a finalist for AIADA National Dealer of the
Year.
Just a sampling of the recognitions of his work includes being named a
Time Magazine Quality Dealer Award Finalist, SME-Milwaukee’s 2001
Sales & Marketing Executive of the Year, and ARC’s annual Challenger
Award winner; being inducted to the Wisconsin Business Hall of Fame;
and receiving the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Community Service Award
and the Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizens Award.
Darrow will be presented with the David F. Mungenast Lifetime
Achievement Award on the evening of April 19 in Alexandria, Va. For
more information about Russ and his career please contact Carol Garcia
at carol.garcia@russdarrow.com.
