Bob Vandergriff Sr., 1989 SEMA Person of the Year, 2003 SEMA Hall of Fame inductee and former owner of Hedman Headers and other aftermarket brands, has passed away. He was 84.

Vandergriff has been associated with Petersen Publishing, NHRA and McMullen Advertising. At those organizations, he helped increase magazine circulations, contributed to company growth and received countless advertising awards.

It is, however, for his role as a businessman and entrepreneur that he is best known. In 1978, Vandergriff purchased his stepping stone to the future: Hedman Manufacturing. Vandergriff put up his mortgage and sold his cars and his stocks. With the money he raised—along with the help of McMullen and several friends—Vandergriff purchased the then-troubled company.

With what Vandergriff described as "a lot of hard work and dedication from a lot of people," he did just that, building Hedman Hedders to become one of today's most successful companies in the industry.

He went on to purchase Beeline Engineering (JR Headers) in 1982 and Trans-Dapt, an accessory company, in 1991. He officially left McMullen Advertising in 1992 and now concentrates his efforts on Hedman Hedders, JR Headers and Trans-Dapt.

As the owner of these companies, he has also been one of SEMA's most active members. Vandergriff was a SEMA Board of Directors member for six years, and served on many SEMA committees. Vandergriff also invested several years and time as chairman of SEMA's annual golf tournament. The event helped raise thousands of dollars for the SEMA Scholarship Fund.

Hedman Hedders has been recognized with the PWA Manufacturer of the Year awards in 1982 and 1988, and Vandergriff was recognized as the 1989 SEMA Person of the Year. He was inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame in 2003.

Image and biography courtesy of SEMA Hall of Fame. To read his full biography, click here.