James H. Blakeley
Inductee #1
James H. Blakeley grew up in Mediapolis, Iowa, where he attended Fairfield public schools. He served in the United States Navy from 1946 to 1971, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Mr. Blakeley was a dealer for American Oil Company (1971-1972) and Chevron Oil Company (1972-1976). He has been the president of Amer-Eka, Inc., and Allied Gardens Towing. He was also the president of San Diego Towing Contractors Association (1978-1979), a founding member and the first president of the Towing and Recovery Association of America (TRAA) in 1979, and a board member of the California Tow Truck Association (1978-1981).
Mr. Blakeley received several awards throughout his life, including the U.S. Presidential Unit Citation (Korea, 1950), Certificate of Commendation (Admiral Hyman Rickover, 1966), U.S. Navy Award of Merit (1971), CTTA Member of the Year (1978), TRAA Distinguished Service Award (1984), and the Who’s Who in California (1985).
Inducted: June 26th, 1986
Born: July 14th, 1928 – Mediapolis, Iowa
Family: Carolyn Ann Hester (wife); Steven Lee Blakeley (1952 – 1972) (son), Sharon Lynn Bischop (daughter), Sandra Louise Maxwell (daughter); Nathan, Rachel, Lauren (grandchildren)
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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.