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LAS VEGAS and ARLINGTON, Texas — The National Independent Automobile Dealers Association unveiled the 2010 Quality Dealer of the Year on Thursday night at the association's 64th Annual Convention and Expo in Las Vegas.

Earning the award was Paul Warren Claborn, who was recognized during the ceremony with what is considered to be the most prestigious NIADA honor.

Claborn, who owns WholesaleCars.com in Albertville, Ala., has worked in the industry almost three decades during a career that started with him detailing cars as a high school student.

After earning the same honors from his state's dealer association, Claborn was chosen from a group of 21 candidates for NIADA's national honors.

To determine the winner, Northwood University provides a judge panel, which looks at various factors including how candidates have contributed to the industry and been involved with their respective communities.

"I am proud of the standards our members meet and Paul epitomizes the quality of dealer professionalism that our members strive to reach," stated NIADA chief executive officer Michael Linn.

"Paul earned the right to be called NIADA's Quality Dealer of the Year for his efforts both in his dealership and in his community," he added.

Looking at Claborn's career in more detail, after detailing cars in his school days, he was able to open a home equity line of credit by working two jobs. He used this credit to purchase and sell vehicles via classified.

Claborn said he "was forced to start my automotive business" when the manufacturing plant where he was employed shut down.

And that he did, launching a wholesale business in 1981. At the time, he had just two employees, but would gradually build up his store.

These days, his company's two locations — one of which just specializes as a Buy-Here, Pay-Here store — employ 22 people. Moreover, his membership in the Alabama IADA dates back to 1983.

Looking at his community involvement, Claborn gave Stepping Ahead — an addiction recovery program — a van, and has provided three local high schools with personal scholarships.

Claborn also takes part in jail and prison ministries. For the last three years, he has mentored a young fatherless boy.

"We live in the most wonderful country on the face of this earth. This country, like no other, affords us one guarantee, the pursuit of happiness," Claborn stated. "It's up to us as individuals as to how much effort we want to put into this pursuit."

NIADA's Scholarship Winners

In other news from NIADA, it also announced its college scholarship winners on Wednesday at the convention.

The association gave out a total of $24,000 in college scholarships to the five winners, which were honored at a ceremony during the conference.

The four regional winners receive $3,500 each that they could put toward attending their college of choice. The national AutoTrader.com-NIADA Scholarship of $10,000 goes to a Northwood University student who is looking to work in the auto industry.

AutoTrader.com underwrote the scholarship awards and travel expenses for the winners, who were recognized along with their parents at Wednesday's banquet.

Receiving the national award was Steve VanArsdale, a rising senior at Northwood. He is majoring in automotive marketing management, and aims to one day own or manage a large dealership group or climb the corporate auto business ladder.

He is the son of James and Margaret VanArsdale of Castile, N.Y.

The four $3,500 regional scholarship winners were as follows:

—Region I: Charles Garrett Rappazzo of Castleton, N.Y.  Officials said Rappazzo is going after a biological engineering degree with a concentration in biomedical engineering and pre-medical studies at Cornell University.

—Region II: Nathan Robert Kukow of Brentwood, Tenn. According to NIADA, Kukow's field of study is pre-med studies at Brown University.

—Region III: Annelise Alissa Madison of Roca, Neb. NIADA indicated that Madison is aiming for a political science and history degree with preparation for law school at Washington and Lee University.

—Region IV: Carl Walker Prince of South Jordan, Utah. According to officials, Prince's field of study is chemical engineering at Brigham Young University.

"These five young men and women have proven their ability to excel academically while contributing to their communities through various service projects and organizations," Linn commented.  "It is truly an honor to help them pursue their educational goals."