An industry leader and pioneering producer of manufactured homes since 1965, James L. Newman, Sr. of Bryan, Ohio passed away after a brief illness May 13 at age 75. He founded Manufactured Housing Enterprises (now MHE,Inc.) in 1965 with the motto of ‘Building Dreams One Home At A Time’ and was still currently active in the day-to-day operations as the CEO. His businesses also included JLN Home Builders, JLN, Inc, Northwest Mobile Home Estates and JLN Farms. The business grew into the largest manufactured housing (MH) builder in the state of Ohio.

He was also a founding member of what became the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) in 1985 to advance the interests of the MH industry. In tribute, MHARR said: “Over the course of nearly thirty years, as a member of the MHARR Board of Directors and as a long-time officer of the Association, Mr. Newman played an instrumental role in defining the fundamental mission of MHARR and in advancing the goals of the HUD Code industry and manufactured housing producers on a national level.” MHProNews extends its most sincere sympathy to the family on his passing. ##

(Photo credit: bryantimes.com–James L. Newman)