While topics such as energy conservation, production methods, marketing and technology tend to dominate discussions among current TRSA members—none of these subjects provided the impetus for the founding of the association.
 
The issue that did—and one that continues to be a central focus to this day—was government relations.
 
How did this happen? Well, shown above is a 1913 photo of a gathering in Cincinnati of the Ohio Linen Supply Association. Founded in 1912, these Buckeye State operators banded together to fight restrictive regulations on rental towels. Their success soon led to the founding of ...