International Towing Hall of Fame Announces 2026 Class, Marking 40th Year of Honors
Nine inductees from across the U.S. and Mexico recognized for decades of leadership, innovation and service to the towing and recovery industry
CHATTANOOGA, TN, UNITED STATES, April 2, 2026
The International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum (ITRHFM) is honored to announce the nine inductees for its Hall of Fame Class of 2026, marking the 40th class to be recognized. Representing five U.S. states and Mexico, the inductees will be honored during a special ceremony on Saturday, October 17, in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
“The towing industry is truly blessed with outstanding individuals who have invested years donating their time and resources to better the industry for all,” said Bill Gratzianna, president of the Towing Museum. “This year’s class exemplifies the spirit of sharing—of knowledge, resources and experience—to help raise the bar.”
The Hall of Fame Class of 2026 inductees are:
Enrique Dueñas Rodríguez, Mexico City, Mexico — A third- generation towing professional, Dueñas Rodríguez has spent more than 50 years building and professionalizing the towing and recovery industry across Mexico and Latin America. Operating Grúas y Servicios Dueñas in Mexico City, he continued the legacy of his father, a 1988 Hall of Fame inductee. He became one of the most active association leaders in the international towing community, helping establish professional standards across an entire continent through cross-border relationship building and sustained organizational leadership.
John H. Gardner, Gilbert, SC — A 53-year veteran of the towing and recovery industry, Gardner is a South Carolina Air National Guard veteran who began his career as a dispatcher for the South Carolina Highway Patrol. He founded American Wrecker Sales in 1983 after acquiring the Century Wrecker distributorship. Gardner is credited with developing the first Towed Vehicle Inspection Report for local police departments—a form still in use today. He is also known for his longstanding generosity, including more than 20 years of youth baseball sponsorship and quietly supporting employees and community members in need.
Bob Huffman, Sanford, FL — Huffman dedicated 35 years at AAA to strengthening relationships between the nation’s largest roadside assistance organization and towing professionals. As Director of Roadside Programs and Benefits, he served as AAA’s ambassador for Slow Down, Move Over awareness, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for the ITRHFM Survivor Fund. He also serves on committees evaluating Survivor Fund requests and Wall of the Fallen nominations, while personally assisting families after the loss of a loved one. Huffman has greatly increased the organization’s advocacy for industry- wide safety reforms.
James “Jim” Jennings Jr., Coral Springs, FL — A second-generation towing professional with 59 years of continuous family involvement in the industry, Jennings served as president of Emerald Transportation Corp. prior to the company being acquired by Guardian Fleet Services. Emerald Transportation Corp. has supported the Florida Highway Patrol since 1964. He founded Towers with a Heart, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds Move Over safety campaigns across Florida. Jennings co-founded the Sunshine State Towing Association, currently serves as TRAA vice president, and has served for approximately 10 years on the ITRHFM Board of Directors. He was named Tow Times Industry Champion in 2019.
Irvin Johns (posthumous), Louisville, KY — Johns, who passed away in 2024, founded Suburban Wrecker Service in 1969 with a single used truck and grew it into Kentucky’s largest towing company, with more than 100 trucks and 80-plus employees. He led the 2nd Street Bridge recovery in 2024, which garnered national news coverage. Johns was also an accomplished NHRA drag racer, becoming the oldest national event winner in NHRA history and earning induction into the NHRA North Central Division Hall of Fame in 2025.
Martin D. Peacock, Americus, GA — Representing the third generation of a family towing business established in 1928, Peacock continues one of the longest-running towing legacies in the United States. He played a key role in founding the Georgia Towing Association and later helped merge organizations to form the Towing & Recovery Association of Georgia (TRAG). He also assisted in forming a towing association in South Carolina and served through the full leadership arc in the Capital City Towing Association, ultimately becoming Chair Emeritus.
Jeff Poquette, Union City, GA — With more than 30 years as an industry consultant and advocate, Poquette has helped shape training standards, safety practices and professional development across the towing industry. He launched one of the industry’s first podcasts in 2018, sharing insights with thousands of towing professionals. He remains active in multiple state associations and continues to advocate for training and education.
Lee Roberts, Paris, KY — Roberts built Roberts Heavy Duty Towing from one truck into a major operation with 66 trucks and 82 employees, bringing international experience from his early career in the United Kingdom. He has served on the ITRHFM Board of Directors, chaired TowCap, and held leadership roles in the Towing and Recovery Association of Kentucky. In 2016, after a competitor lost his business in a fire, Roberts donated a truck and provided office space to help him rebuild—an act widely recognized in local media. Roberts was the first towing company recognized by The Kentucky Office of Highway Safety for outstanding highway safety efforts.
Shannon Douglas Yates, Chattanooga, TN — A third-generation Hall of Fame inductee, Yates has operated Yates Towing & Recovery in Chattanooga for 38 years. He has held leadership roles in the Tennessee Tow Truck Association and maintained active TRAA membership. Yates has also supported the museum for many years, often donating his time and resources. His community engagement reflects the same values that earned his grandfather and father their places in the Hall of Fame: that the towing profession is about more than moving vehicles — it is about serving people.
The International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum was founded in 1986 to recognize outstanding individuals in the towing and recovery industry and to record and preserve its history. Learn more at towingmuseum.com.