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1955
Ernest Johannesen and other prominent locksmiths met December 8 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to discuss organizing a national locksmith association.
1956
The first organizational meeting was held on July 15. Ernest Johannesen was elected the first president of the Associated Locksmiths of America.
1957
The ALOA logo was registered with the U.S. Patent Office.
1958
Keynotes, the official publication of ALOA, was launched.
1959
The Education Committee was established.
1960
The ALOA Film Lending Library was started, with the first films being “Installing the MS Lock” by Adams Rite Manufacturing Company and “Creating Security” by Sargent and Greenleaf.
1962
In July, the first ALOA model service van was auctioned off, with proceeds seeding the ALOA Education Fund.
1963
The ALOA Bonding Program was initiated.
1966
Membership passed 1,000 members.
1968
ALOA began listing new applicants in Keynotes magazine for review by the existing membership.
1970
ALOA headquarters moved from New York City to Kingston, New York.
1973
ALOA purchased a building at 3003 Live Oak Street in Dallas, Texas, for $175,000 to use as its headquarters.
1974
ALOA completed the move to Dallas in December.
1975
The ALOA Museum and Library was established at headquarters. The museum was later renamed the “Robert Bell Museum.”
1975
In March, ALOA Education Committee began a program of holding classes outside the annual convention in other cities.
1976
The first ALOA President’s Award was given.
1977
Keynotes began accepting paid advertising.
1978
ALOA began accepting credit card payments for dues and convention registrations.
1978
Keynotes magazine increased to 64 pages.
1978
The ALOA Scholarship Fund was established.
1981
Keynotes magazine was first published in full four-color.
1985
The first credentials were awarded in ALOA’s Proficiency Registration Program.
1989
Evelyn Wersonick was elected as ALOA’s first woman president.
1993
The Scholarship Fund became the ALOA Scholarship Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit association separate from ALOA.
1993
In March, the Safe & Vault Technicians Association (SAVTA) officially became part of ALOA.
1993
The ALOA Lifetime of Outstanding Achievement was introduced. Edward A. Pfeil Sr. was the first recipient.
1997
ALOA’s website, ALOA.org, went live.
1998
The “Policy Governance” method of association management took effect, as adopted by the Board of Directors.
1998
Bylaws adopted by the membership allowed proxy voting (vote-by-mail) for elections and bylaw changes.
2002
ALOA joined the Coalition for Auto Repair Equity (CARE) in support of the Motor Vehicle “Right to Repair” Act of 2001.
2005
ALOA headquarters moved to 3500 Easy Street in Dallas.
2006
For its 50th anniversary, ALOA brought in 50-year members to the convention and hauled a 1956 Ford Thunderbird to industry trade shows. The Thunderbird was raffled off at the annual Convention and Trade Expo.
2009
“Go Green” memberships were introduced as an annual eco-friendly membership option.
2011
The Women in Locksmithing (WIL) group was created.
2013
The association’s name changed to ALOA Security Professionals Association, Inc.
2013
The International Association of Investigative Locksmiths (IAIL) became a part of ALOA.
2013
ALOA Institutional Locksmiths division was founded.
2015
Aaron M. Fish Security Training Center was launched in October after a generous donation from the center’s namesake.
2021
ALOA moved its headquarters in March to 1408 N. Riverfront Boulevard, #303 in Dallas.
2022
The International Association of Automotive Locksmiths (IAAL) division was founded in April.
