"Jim certainly got the injection market going, as he was forward-thinking and a dynamic salesman," said Tim Graham, who worked for Jennett at Rep, where he himself was president from 2005 until the end of 2018.
Tim Daro, president of advertising and public relations firm Bernard & Co., worked with Jennett for more than a decade, as Bernard & Co. handled Rep Corp.'s advertising and publicity from its inception until its move to Kodak.
"Jim Jennett was a mentor, as I cut my teeth as an ad man in 1976," Daro said. "He was unconventional to say the least, always encouraging me to think outside the box, long before that phrase became fashionable.
"In the rather 'traditional' world of the rubber industry, Jim and I often took risky approaches to our marketing but, combined with the great Rep press technology, the company grew substantially in those early days. Our ads and direct mail tactics were attention-getters, to say the least."
Following his tenure at Rep, Jennett founded ARC—formally Another Rubber Co.—in Chandler. The firm molds a wide range of rubber goods, and is best known for its Star-Grip brand of golf grips. The grips are made with a propriety compound and are known for their durability. Graham said he still uses them, "as they do not wear out."
Jennett sold the company a few years ago, as his health issues surfaced, according to Daro.
"He will be missed by many, as Jim was a notable character and a major factor in establishing Rep as the leading supplier of high-performance injection presses to the American market," Daro said.
Jennett is survived by his wife Patty, and other family. A memorial service was held July 15.
