Jayco Chairman to Retire

Wilbur Bontrager

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The chairman of the Middlebury-based Jayco board of directors has announced plans to retire. The recreational vehicle manufacturer says Wilbur Bontrager, who has been involved with the company since its inception, will step down from full-time duty at the end of the year.

Bontrager will partner with Jayco on a part-time basis. His parents, Lloyd and Bertha, started the company in 1968 and Bontrager officially joined the company in 1971. He was named executive vice president in 1985 and was elected chairman of the board in 1993.

His brother, Derald Bontrager, will continue the family tradition as president and CEO of Jayco, a role he has held since 2013.

"It has been a privilege to serve Jayco Inc. since 1971, during which time the company has grown significantly, all the while producing high quality RV products for families all over the world," Wilbur Bontrager said in a news release. "I want to thank each of our nearly 4,000 employees for their support and ongoing commitment to Jayco. I know the company will continue to be in good hands with my brother, Derald, at the helm."

Bontrager served on the board of directors for the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association from 1994 to 2002, with two of those years spent as chairman. He was inducted into the RV Hall of Fame in 2008.