The cornerstone of Randall Publishing is a recognition program for scholars, Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. But the publishing company founded in 1934 by H. Pettus Randall, Jr., is now one of the nation’s largest privately held trade magazine publishing enterprises, with more than 35 magazines, directories, periodicals, and Web sites and more than 500 employees. In 2000, Folio, the leading magazine for the publishing industry, ranked Randall Publishing as the sixth fastest-growing and the 22nd largest publishing company in the nation. Much of that growth came during the 27 years that Pettus H. Randall, III, who died of pancreatic cancer on September 7, 2002, was at the helm.
As the country struggled to pull itself out of the Great Depression, Henry Pettus Randall, Jr. was excelling in his undergraduate studies at The University of Alabama, attracting the attention of numerous honor societies. However, initiation fees and membership dues prevented him from joining the organizations that courted him. He vowed to never again let financial restrictions stand in the way of students being honored for academic achievement.
Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges is the product of his resolve. Along with Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges, which was added in 1969, the Who’s Who books have become one of the most prestigious award programs in academia and are now in place at more than 2,000 universities, colleges, and junior colleges in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Following the visionary tradition of Henry Pettus Randall, Jr., Pettus Randall III took the Who’s Who program to the next level by founding the Award Company of America. The Award Company of America distributes the centerpieces of any awards program: plaques, trophies, ribbons, specialized cards, and other promotional and ad specialty items. The division prospered, with gross revenue exceeding more than $4 million by1984. After the death of his father in 197 6, Pettus assumed control of the company and merged Randall Publishing Company and the Award Company of America.
The company entered the magazine publishing world. Randall strategically chose magazines covering industries at the heart of our economy: trucking, construction, and industrial.
In 1986, Randall acquired Overdrive magazine, the oldest and most respected magazine for independent truckers. Based on its success with Overdrive, Randall expanded its presence within the trucking industry, adding Truckers News, the industry-leading news and lifestyle publication; CCJ, which offers business solutions for fleet owners and managers, and eTrucker.com, the most comprehensive source for trucking information and services on the Internet. Today, Randall’s Trucking Media Group also produces nationally broadcast radio programs, numerous seminars, and other special events, as well as a major trade show, the Great American Trucking Show.
In 1987, Randall decided to take on the construction industry. The company created and introduced TOP BID, now known as the “bible” of off-highway and equipment auctions.
That was followed by the launch of Equipment World magazine, the leading construction-equipment publication in both circulation and influence. Published monthly, Equipment World serves the business and fleet management needs of more than 87,000 contractors throughout North America. The Construction Media Group also conducts targeted research on equipment trends, forecasts, and reader opinions and produces equipment world.com, a Web site featuring news, service, equipment information, and business tools for contractors, dealers, and manufacturers worldwide.
In 1999, Randall turned its publishing skills to another highly active part of the nation’s economy: the industrial world. The Industrial Media Group was born through the acquisition of Modem Woodworking, a leading magazine for woodworking technicians. The same year, Randall bought Pumps & Systems magazine; its trade show, PumpUsers Expo; and its website, pump-zone.com, all concentrating on users and manufacturers of industrial pumps.
Remaining true to its commitment to provide its customers world-class service and world-class products, Randall developed Northbrook Publishing in 1996. Located in New Berlin, Wis., Northbrook specializes in the creation and production of corporate magazines. It serves several Fortune 500 companies, many of which advertise in Randall’s publications.
Caterpillar, Sherwin-Williams, Peterbilt, and Ken worth are just a few of the companies that take advantage of Northbrook’s publishing expertise. Equipment Data Associates, acquired in 1998, is the premier national supplier of UCC-based marketing services. EDA provides semimonthly leads, mailing lists, market-share statistics, and equipment-population estimates to the construction equipment, machine tool, farm equipment, lift truck, on-highway truck/trailer, printing, and woodworking industries. EDA works closely with Randall’s research group, providing circulation feed and supplying customers with the latest buying trends in their target audience and/or for their specific product.
Pettus Randall III earned his bachelor’s degree in history and English in 1997 and his J.D. degree from the UA School of Law in 1971. He also attended the New York University Graduate School of Business. Randall and his widow, Dr. Cathy Randall, have long been involved in support of education. Cathy Randall has served as director of the Computer-Based Honors Program at UA and also directed the University Honors Program. She now serves as chairman of the company. Daughter Jaynie is a graduate of Princeton University and the Harvard Graduate School of Business who attends Yale Law School; Kate is a Vanderbilt graduate who earned a master’s degree as a Rotary International Scholar at the University of Cambridge, England; and Pettus IV is the student body president at Princeton.
Randall was a member of dozens of civic. fraternal and religious organizations, including the Tuscaloosa Jaycees, Kiwanis Club of Greater Tuscaloosa, the American Legion, Alumni Association, board of directors of the Tuscaloosa Association of Retarded Children.
Greater Tuscaloosa Chamber of Commerce. Tuscaloosa Arts and Humanities Council, Christian Businessmen’s Club, Tuscaloosa Mental Health Association, the Elks, Masons and Shrine, and the Boys Club of Tuscaloosa.
He was an active member of Christ Episcopal Church.
He served as a delegate to the Democratic Convention in 1968 and was a member of the Alabama Democratic Executive Committee.
Staying true to its mission, goals, and beliefs, Randall Publishing Co. continues to grow in both profits and product offerings. The same entrepreneurial spirit that led one man to found Randall Publishing Co. continues to drive the company today.
