Dan Pecora, owner of Erie Brush & Manufacturing, was inducted into the 2020 International Carwash Association Hall of Fame in April 2020, just a few weeks before his death on April 26. The industry’s highest honor, the Car Wash Hall of Fame was created in 1962 to recognize the innovators, leaders and pioneers of the professional car wash industry.

In 1962, Dan’s father, Carlo Pecora, purchased the property in Appleton, Wisc., that would become one of the very first exterior-only washes in North America. Carlo opened Automat of Appleton in 1963, and Dan, manager of the site, graduated from handmaking brushes in the family basement to promoting the business and drawing customers to the conveyor-powered wash.

Innovation was the defining quality of Dan’s career. In 1970, he bought Erie Brush and grew it from a two-man operation to a thriving 40-person operation. His experience developing and running exterior washes drove him to create products that solved real challenges for operators. Under Dan’s leadership, Erie developed unique brushes for a variety of applications, and to this day continues to carry a wide range of brush materials for washes of all kinds. Dan’s devotion to product led him to several patents in the industry.

Dan was honored to serve as president of the Chicagoland Carwash Association. He won the ICA President’s Award in 1987, and the Distinguished Service Award in 1988, as well as numerous other awards from regional car wash organizations.
Pecora is survived by his wife Patricia; daughter Laura, son Robert, eight grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

“Dan was truly an industry pioneer,” said Ken Littrell, President of International Carwash Association. “He dedicated so much of his life to this industry, and his passion for the practice and people of car washing truly shows in his products and in the network of customers he’s built all around the country. We were honored to be able to recognize him with the Hall of Fame Award.”