Donald E. Cruse
Inductee #4
Donald E. Cruse grew up in Ontario and became a leadership figure for the international and Canadian towing and recovery industry. He was vice president of the Steed Automotive Industries of Canada (1972-1974), the founding president of the Ontario Recovery Group (1981-1984), a Wrecker, Dispatcher, and Dangerous goods seminar instructor beginning in 1982, and a founder and administrator for the Canadian Towing Society beginning in 1985. Cruse’s Towing, started in 1972 by Mr. Cruse, his father, Lloyd, and his brother, Ken, became a distributor of the Vulcan Cradle Snatcher and had its own fleet of trucks. Mr. Cruse was also a member of the Towing and Recovery Association of America, Friends of Towing, Hamilton Trucking Counsel, and the Ontario Trucking Association. He is the first member of the Hall of Fame from Canada.
Inducted: June 26th, 1986
Born: March 24th, 1945 – Midland, Ontario, Canada
Family: Mary Helen Cruse (wife); Shannon Diane (daughter), Justin Thomas (son); Kenneth (brother)
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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.