This loose knit organization began sometime in the 1970s with meetings of Cummins distributor personnel at AED shows
and other meetings around the U.S. Most, if not all, had worked at the factory in Columbus Indiana early in their carreer.
It became a common practice for the group to play the "numbers game" after dinner to determine who would pay for
the meal.
Bill Elder's recollection of how the group started and where the name came from:
"First our early history is or was clouded by cocktails and large expense accounts and a devil-may-care
attitude. My best recollection as to start date would be at an AED meeting in Atlanta in the mid 70's. It then progressed
from there to setting qualifications for membership. Initially the member had to be ex-factory and work for a distributor.
It was also assumed that you had to be in "Industrial Markets"
At another meeting and after a few cocktails some shouted we are the "Good Guys" being of the
"Distributor Group" as opposed to a "Factory Type"
We were not being disrespectful as much as to note our clearer thinking about selling to users or
sellers of equipment with Cummins power. We further wanted to seperate ourselves from the "Automotive guys" who had
it made it the shade with 60% plus market share and had all CECO"s top management helping them with the customers.
For those of that period we were still trying to figure out how we missed our marketing target of
"41% share by 1972." We did have one successful market by dominating the motor grader market with highly profitable H-135.
As I now recall after all the giveaways we had enough left to pay the start-up inspection and $35
Distrbutor Sales Bonus.
Now as I look back, we were building the base for what is now a very significant portion of Cummins'
current business-gensets-marine-DOEM-mining-oil field-agriculture. You can add to the list of non-automotive businesses that
powered Cummins to its current market positions.
Yes we take a lot of credit for the success of Cummins, but for us who we there it was a very steep
hill to climb and restore Cummins reputation in a market where we were not welcome.
I'll let the other "Good Guys" add to or correct my memory and thoughts."
The group's Cummins Good Guys name took on a formal significance when Bill Elder supplied the members with tee shirts
bearing the Cummins Good Guys name in early 1991.
Among the 1991 members were:
Fred L. Leasure
Dennis M. Taylor
Sam A. Washurn
W. (Bill) J. Maynard
T. D. Dick
Ken K. Carpenter
W. F. Inman
R. (Dick) T. Plaster
Marty J. Bruckner
Ray L. Jackson
Al H. Friel
M. E. Patterson
C. (Buzz) E. Horton
Chuck H. Puleston
Gene Pope
Over time, membership rules have relaxed, although the informality of the organization has not lapsed.
