The Window Cleaning Hall of Fame 2009 Inaugural Class Inductees

In 1958 was the year that R. D. "Don" Newman began manufacturing the very first aluminum telescoping extension handles.

R.D. was born in 1923 and served as a P-38 fighter pilot during World War II in the Army Air Corp in the South Pacific Theatre. After the end of the War, he attended William Jewel College graduating in only three years and then obtained a law degree at Northwestern University in Chicago. He began his career in the paint business as a manufacturers’ representative.

The idea of an extension pole came to him while he was making a sales call on a paint business in Wichita, KS. The owner and a paint contractor were struggling, trying to tape a paint roller frame to a piece of regular electrical conduit. R.D. jokingly ribbed the two as they tried, unsuccessfully, to accomplish their feat. After more ribbing, the owner looked up and said “Don, if you can make something better, we’ll buy ‘em.” Upon returning home, R.D. started thinking of aluminum to replace the heavy and unwieldy electrical conduit. In 1958, he formed the company that would become Mr.LongArm to start producing the first known aluminum extension handles. R.D. and his wife, Mimi started showing these products at various trade shows and in 1961 they attended their first ISSA show where their extension poles were an instant success. Finally, professional window cleaners had a tool that would serve them well and had the quality to last for a very long time. From that day forward Mr. LongArm has served the industry with new products that help the professional perform their work faster, easier and safer than any other product.

Today, Mr. LongArm’s product line has grown from one extension pole to over 50 different styles of extension poles and over 160 different attachments. Mr.LongArm products are now sold in the paint, janitorial, sanitary supply, RV, marine and equine supply industries. Custom manufacturing and private labeling also continue to be a part of Mr. LongArm’s line of distribution.

R.D. Newman passed away in 2007 and his wife, Mimi Newman, passed away in 2006. These two wonderful people, the co-founders of Mr. LongArm, leave behind a great legacy of inventiveness, integrity and a dedication to service and quality products for every customer.