11/25/2024
From all 12,000 team members at Lippert, we extend our deepest sympathies to our friends at Forest River on the passing of a true industry icon, Pete Liegl.
Lippert owes much to Pete Liegl’s legacy. When Lippert entered the RV industry in the late 1990s, Pete was one of the first customers to take a chance on us and place his trust in our company and its young leadership team. Over the years, Pete continually challenged Lippert to become a more cost-competitive vendor and demonstrated how business could be simplified through his decentralized model. Over the next two decades, Forest River became one of Lippert’s largest customers—only because Pete allowed it to be. For that, we are forever grateful for his trust and support. We will continue to honor his legacy by striving to be the best partner possible to Forest River.
No one in the industry has achieved the accolades Pete accomplished. He grew Forest River from a small operation into a $10 billion business spanning multiple industries, including RV, marine, bus, utility trailers, and specialty trucks. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and Lippert followed Pete’s entrepreneurial playbook, entering many of the same markets over the years. Pete showed us that with strong operational leadership and discipline, this could be achieved. For that, we thank him.
Today, we celebrate Pete and his legacy. The RV industry remains a unique space where the American Dream thrives. With enough grit and determination, one can grow a company like Forest River from its humble beginnings to being part of a financial powerhouse like Berkshire Hathaway in just a few decades. Lippert owes Pete a debt of gratitude for shaping both our company and the RV industry into what they are today.
Thank you, Pete—you will be deeply missed.
