The American Supply Association (ASA)’s Executive Committee is proud to
announce that Mid-City Supply’s Jeff New and Hajoca’s Gary Jones are the recipients of the
2022 Fred V. Keenan Lifetime Achievement Award.
New, chairman of Elkhart, Indiana-based Mid-City Supply and Jones, Eastern Division pricing
and vendor relations manager for Hajoca Corp., will be honored Nov. 10 during the InSinkErator
ASA Annual Meeting & Member Luncheon as part of NETWORK2022 at the Fairmont Chicago
Millennium Park. Both were unanimous recommendations by the Keenan Award Selection
Committee.
The Keenan Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to individuals with a long history of
service and dedication to the PHCP-PVF industry. To be considered, individuals must have
exhibited strong influence on the status of the industry, project a positive industry image, be
responsible for positively affecting the industry in general, and have provided a history of
dedicated service to ASA.
New, who became involved in ASA in the late 1970s, served as ASA president in 2008 and
continues to serve in a key volunteer leadership position as chairman of ASA’s Advocacy
Strategic Council. New was chairman of the ASA Government Affairs Committee for 11 years
from 2010 to 2021, and also has been heavily involved over the years with ASA’s Political
Action Committee.
“I am humbled,” New said. “I am fortunate to have been born into an industry that I could spend
my whole life in and enjoy every day of it. To be given this award for doing what I have loved for
46 years is an honor beyond belief.”
Jones, who has been in the PHCP-PVF industry for 46 years, spent the first 40 years of his
career with Eastern Penn Supply. After Hajoca acquired Eastern Penn, Jones became manager
of the company’s Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania profit center and has spent the last three years in
his current role as Eastern Division pricing and vendor relations manager.
Also no stranger to volunteer ASA leadership, Jones has been a part of ASA’s Plumbing
Advisory Group since its inception and served a stint as that group’s chairman.
Jones remains involved in ASA Northeast, the regional association formerly known as
Wholesalers Association of the North East (WANE). Jones is a former WANE president.
“I am not naïve to believe there are many people more deserving of this honor than I am,” Jones
said. “To be recognized along with Jeff New and what he continues to contribute to ASA is truly
humbling. The list of recipients is the Mount Rushmore of our industry. I have worked with and
known many of this distinguished group. To think someone who is just an everyday person in
the business, to even be considered would have been enough. That being said, anyone, if
allowed to, and has the drive to, can influence and make a difference in a positive manner to a
wonderful industry and to ASA.”
New and Jones join an elite industry fraternity to win the Keenan award. That group also
includes Fred Keenan (for who the award is named), Karl Neupert, Ed Felten, John
McDonald, John Martin, Frank Finkel, Nick Giuffre, Morris Beschloss, Joel Becker, Dottie
Ramsey, Joe Poehling and Joe Maiale.
“Jeff New and Gary Jones epitomize the true definition of servant leadership,” ASA CEO
Michael Adelizzi said. “Their contributions to ASA over the years have been many and have
had a major impact in the positive momentum the association continues to gain. Both are highly
deserving of the Keenan Lifetime Achievement Award and now can rightfully take their place
alongside the greats of our industry.”
NETWORK2022 runs Nov. 9-11 at the Fairmont in Chicago. For full program and registration
details, visit www.asa.net/Networking/NETWORK2022.
