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January 7, 2013
In Memoriam: William E. “Bill” Taylor, Commercial Equipment Co.

ADA, Okla. — Had announced closure of business due to failing health

ADA, Okla. — William Everett “Bill” Taylor, owner of Commercial Equipment Co., an Oklahoma City-based distributor of laundry and dry cleaning equipment, died Nov. 7 at his home at the age of 79.

Only a few weeks earlier, Taylor had informed customers and suppliers by letter that the business was ceasing operations Oct. 31, 2012, due to his failing health.

Taylor had also owned and operated Ada Linen Service.

Surviving him are two daughters, Vicky Campbell and Kim Brown; a son, Jeff Taylor; two sisters, Polly Flatt and LaVaughn Lundgaard; two brothers, Stanley Taylor and Bryan Taylor; and 13 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother and a son.

April 4, 2012
Thum Elected President of Southwest Drycleaners Association

SAN ANTONIO — Richard Thum, co-founder and president of Five Star Cleaners, was recently elected president of The Southwest Drycleaners Association (SDA)

SAN ANTONIO — Richard Thum, co-founder and president of Five Star Cleaners, was recently elected president of The Southwest Drycleaners Association (SDA) at its annual convention.

The regional trade association, with more than 300 members, is an affiliate of the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI). The 96-year-old association serves the professional dry cleaners of Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

Thum served as first vice president of the organization last year, and has served on the SDA board in various capacities for 28 years.

He launched Comet Cleaners in San Antonio in 1981 along with his wife, Sharlene, and the name was changed to Five Star Cleaners in 2004. The Thums own 11 locations across San Antonio.

Thum holds a bachelor of science degree in real estate finance from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, and has a real estate broker’s license in Texas.

January 26, 2012
Plant Design Awards — Special Honors, Outstanding New Build: Yale Cleaners

TULSA, Okla. — Abundant landscaping surrounds the upscale, contemporary exterior of Yale’s new neighborhood drycleaning plant. A dry stacked stone tower standing 33 feet anchors the front. The building is finished with a massive L-shaped canopy, providing covered upfront parking and a double-lane carhop.

A bright, clean call office adorned with a brushed stainless steel wall and the blue-neon words “Convenience,” “Speed” and “Dependability” greets customers. The entire building has ceramic tile flooring, as well as energy-saving light fixtures.

Renzacci hydrocarbon drycleaning machines with Hoyt reclaimers ensure high-volume production. Workstations and equipment are arranged to eliminate unnecessary movement.

Other equipment includes a 48hp Parker boiler and hot water heater, Milnor washer-extractors, and finishing equipment from Forenta, Fuji Star and Unipress.

June 21, 2010
CRDN Sponsors Collegiate Players Tour

BERKLEY, Mich. — The Certified Restoration Drycleaning Network (CRDN) has signed on as a major sponsor of the Collegiate Players Tour (CPT), a summer-long golf competition for students from more than 350 colleges and universities across the United States.

November 3, 2009
Martinizing Dry Cleaning Acquires Dry Cleaning Station

LOVELAND, Ohio — Martinizing Dry Cleaning has increased its more than 529-store global presence with the acquisition of Minneapolis-based Dry Cleaning Station.

It’s anticipated that a combination of 10 Dry Cleaning Station full-service plants will initially convert to the Martinizing brand in four markets, including Denver; Southern California; Tulsa, Okla.; and Minneapolis, with other markets to follow, according to Jerry Laesser, Martinizing’s vice president of marketing and franchise development.

October 5, 2009
Drycleaner Wins Oklahoma DEQ Platinum Star Award

OWASSO, Okla. — The Dry Cleaning Station of Owasso, Okla., has earned the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Platinum Star award, which recognizes facilities that not only achieve and maintain regulatory compliance, but also protect the environment and promote employee safety.

October 5, 2009
Drycleaner Wins Oklahoma DEQ Platinum Star Award

OWASSO, Okla. — The Dry Cleaning Station of Owasso, Okla., has earned the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Platinum Star award, which recognizes facilities that not only achieve and maintain regulatory compliance, but also protect the environment and promote employee safety.

April 10, 2009
Timeline: 1950s & 1960s

1950s

The postwar economic boom spreads into drycleaning, ushering in its most prosperous era in history. More plants race to handle the shirts, suits and millinery of America’s growing middle class, and suburban wives embrace new styles of dress and décor that call for new services. A can-do spirit pervades the nation and the industry.

June 2, 2008
Oklahoma Operator Licks Stamp Prices

EDMOND, Okla. — Parkway Cleaners in Edmond sponsored a special promotion last month to coincide with the recent increase in postal rates, giving away free sheets of 1-cent stamps to every customer at pickup.

The price increase went into effect Monday, May 12, raising the rate charged by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to mail a first-class letter from 41 cents to 42 cents.