Immortalized as a pioneer of the unlimited wash club, but remembered for his tenacity, innovation and keeping people together.
At The Car Wash Show™ 2025 in Las Vegas, the International Carwash Association welcomed Henry Dubinsky, founder of Waterway Gas & Wash, to the Car Wash Hall of Fame.
At the Hall of Fame luncheon and awards presentation, friends, family and coworkers came together to recognize and remember some of the highlights of Dubinsky’s lifetime of accomplishments in the car wash industry.
“The more you get to know Henry, the more you understand how much he has impacted the industry and why he is so deserving of this award,” said ICA Chair Dave Ellard. “Everyone in the car wash industry has reaped the benefits of his innovation.”
But, in true fashion, when Dubinsky ascended to the podium to accept his award, one of the first things he did was recognize and laud others, from employees and people in the industry to his son Bob to two retired coworkers, Karen Patton and Ken Williams, who were part of the Waterway team from almost the beginning. “Who knew then that Waterway could have grown from buying a derelict used top brush for $1,000 from Jack Flapan’s back lot to what it is today?” Dubinsky said.
“There were some early times in our Waterway life that things weren’t all peaches and cream and roses,” Williams said in the touching video shown during the luncheon that reflected on Dubinsky’s impact in the car wash industry. “Henry found ways to keep things afloat, making the things work and keeping the people together.”
What really set Dubinsky apart— and helped Waterway secure a solid footing in the industry very early on — is the unlimited wash club model. In 1976, Dubinsky and the crew at Waterway created the Clean Car Club, an unlimited wash program for full-service car washes.
“People said to us, ‘How can you possibly make money on that?’” Dubinsky said. Even into the ’90s, people were still questioning the concept; as ICA president he spoke at the convention and the feedback was similar to what he heard in the ’70s. But he persevered because he believed in it. “Now virtually everybody in the industry does it,” Dubinsky said.
“To me that's such a great example of being an innovative, iconic thinker and something we were just decades ahead of everybody on,” said his son, Bob Dubinsky, CEO and president of Waterway.
“We are who we are today because of Henry and his impact will be around for a very long time,” said Shaun Nordgaarden, COO of Waterway.
Since 1962, ICA has presented the Hall of Fame Award to car wash professionals, operators and suppliers who have made a lasting impact on the professional car wash industry. Selection into the Car Wash Hall of Fame is based upon candidate attributes in the areas of leadership, collaboration, industry support, longevity and innovation. See a full list of Hall of Fame recipients.