Longtime RV business owner Tom Raper dies

Tom Raper, the longtime owner of the popular Tom Raper RVs in Richmond, Ind., died Tuesday at a Florida hospital, Kicks 96 reported today.

Raper first started a used-car dealership in Richmond before turning it into his iconic RV business along Interstate 70 in 1964. The business became a national phenomenon with Raper pitching his RV sales on TV with his famous pitch, “Save today, the Tom Raper way.”

Tom Raper RVs was renamed last week, months after the longtime dealership based in Richmond, Ind., was sold to Camping World, a national recreational vehicle company based in Bowling Green, Ky.

Tom Raper RVs had its 60-acre Richmond lot and locations in Fairfield and Columbus. The locations now have signs representing Camping World.

The company has been owned by David Bane since 2002.