Herm Deal, the founder of Huron Valley Sales, of Belleville, MI, who brought such things as deicing systems, radiant floor heat and weep heating to the carwashing industry, and helped to identify applications for recycled water and reverse osmosis, recently tuned 90 years old and celebrated his birthday in Atlantic City on Oct. 8 during the Northeast Regional Carwash Convention (NRCC).
A cake was presented to Herm during the Opening Night reception, which was held at the Hard Rock Cafe and was sponsored by Innovative Control Systems (ICS).
According to Herm's son, Rob Deal, who is the vice president of Innovative Control Systems, Inc. (ICS), Herm was born on October 8th, 1923, in Georgia. Rob said that many stopped by his booth to wish him "happy birthday" during the NRCC.
Herm also was involved with the International Carwash Association® as a liaison with the auto manufacturers. He described it as one of his most challenging endeavors. "It is important that cars be designed so they can be easily washed and go through a wash without damage to the vehicle. The auto industry is much more willing to share future designs with the committee and this has led to a more successful communication within the two industries," he stated in a Professional Carwashing & Detailing article in 2001.
Married for 62 years, Herm and his wife Helen, who passed away last December, had eight children together and lived in Ann Arbor. During World War II, Helen worked at the bomber plant at Willow Run, the obituary stated, and it was there that she met Herm, who was there to train on the B-24.
