Roy L. Owens, Jr.
Elected: March 10, 1998
Inducted: September 26, 1998
Born: February 23, 1930
Family: Wife, Hettie Wyatt Owens, One daughter Betty Owens Surmont
Education: Corbin City Schools Grade 2-12, Graduated in 1948
Military: Army ORC-E-2728 Rail Battalion Korea 1951-54
1945-47 Clerk for A & P Tea Company in Corbin and Hazard
1947-57 Clerk for L & N Railroad in Corbin
1954 Started Owens Muffler Shop (Now Owens Auto Parts)
1957 Started towing business with a 1953 Chevy One Ton with a homemade crane
1972 Started Owens Truck Equipment selling Holmes wreckers and
Vulcan Equipment and other equipment.
1972 Started Owens Tire Company selling and serving truck loader pan tire for
mining, construction and earth moving equipment.
1974 Started Owens Manufacturing Company – manufacturing lubricating
equipment for off-road equipment, designed a calcium pump (patented)
for removing calcium out of earth mover and farm tires, designed a trailer
to hold the calcium for reuse, designed and rebuilt hydraulic air
compressors for service and lube trucks.
1984 Designed and built a 30 unit office and shopping mall.
1987 Designed and built equipment to re-process used antifreeze to original
standards.
1987 Designed and built and oil crusher for all size auto and diesel engines.
Appointed to:
Governor Council on Vocational Education, Kentucky Tech Statewide Marketing Team, Vision 21 for Kentucky Tech, Member of Kentucky Tech Marina Development Commission, Member of Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for Incident Management Commission, Response and Coordination of Resources.
Past President South Corbin Merchants Association
Past President Whitley County Ambulance
Past Director Big Brothers/Big Sisters
Lions Club
Tri-County Industrial Commission
Past President of Towing & Recovery Association of Kentucky
TRAA Board of Directors
TRAA Education Foundation
TRAA Strategic Planning Committee
National Drivers Certification Program Level #2
National Drivers Certification Program Level #3
Director of Interstate Towing Association
Master Mason 32 Degree
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HALL OF FAME NOMINEE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Tow Equipment/Product Innovation
Innovation of a product sold in the marketplace that has helped move the industry forward. Candidate must have a minimum of 10 years of service to the industry.
Exemplary Dedication
Candidate must have 20 years running a towing business in an outstanding and exemplary manner, promoting a positive image of the towing industry and have positive relations with the community, i.e., performing services for the community about and beyond the services for hire. Limit: One inductee per year.
Industry Leadership
Leadership involved with an outstanding project that has had a dynamic and lasting effect on the towing industry. Candidate must have minimum 10 years service to the towing industry.
Professional Achievement
Creating a product or service of any kind that has had a significant and lasting effect on thousands of towing professionals. Candidate Must have a minimum of 10 years to the industry.