Belinda Harris
Belinda was born in 1957 to Elmer and Lib Hiatt of Thomasville, North Carolina. She has one sister, Susan. Belinda graduated from Pfeiffer University with a degree in education and art history. In 1980 she married Dennis Harris. After teaching school for several years, Belinda began her “part time” career at Ray Harris Towing in Greensboro, NC.
Belinda served on numerous board positions then became President of the Towing and Recovery Professionals of North Carolina from 1988 -1990 and she continues to serve as the legislative chairman for that association. During her terms, she, along with the committee members have accomplished adding towers to the “mover over” law and passing a bill that afforded towers the ability to tow tractor-trailer combinations up to 50 miles legally. Most recently she was instrumental in getting Senate Bill 345 passed which limits the number of days a vehicle can be stored without a court order when held by the District Attorney or law enforcement.
She was the driving force behind the Title 11 Administrative Code which stops insurance companies from abandoning vehicles on the towers of North Carolina. In 1988 Belinda authored an “Abandoned Car Disposal Guide” that was approved by the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles.
She is a past President of WTRAA and current Chairwoman of the WTRAA Scholarship Committee. For over twenty years, she along with the committee has been responsible for awarding over $110,000 in scholarships to our deserving young industry leaders. Her passion for the industry and the scholarship fund has led her to form “B’s Hope”! She takes the items from vehicles that are abandoned at the company and sells them donating the money to the WTRAA Scholarship Fund and urges others to do the same!
During the holiday season Belinda partners with the local Starbucks to promote the “Move Over” law by decorating the outside area with signage and a tree of tow trucks and other emergency vehicles bringing awareness to the law and enhancing safety for all.
1990 – Tow Woman of the Year Towing and Recovery Professionals of North Carolina
1990 – WTRAA Tow Woman of the Year
1996 – WTRAA President’s Award
2005 – Towing and Recovery Professionals of North Carolina Legislative Award for Outstanding Service
2013 – Goodwill Industries Recognition for Community Service
2016 – WTRAA President’s Award for Excellence
2016 – TRAA President’s Award
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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.