Hall of Fame

The first Hall of Fame class, inducted in 1986, consisted of 27 members from six countries: Australia, Canada, Mexico, South Africa, United Kingdom and United States. Industry professionals came together and selected individuals who made a difference. To honor those chosen few, the Friends of Towing (now ITRHFM) dedicated an entire section of the museum’s walls for portraits of the inductees.

Today the Hall of Fame has grown to include over 350 distinguished towing professionals with members from:

Australia
Belgium
Canada
Finland
France
Germany

Ireland
Japan
Mexico
Netherlands
Poland
Scotland

South Africa
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
United States
Wales

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ITRHFM- HALL OF FAME NOMINATION FORM

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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.

Click Here To Nominate

Joseph M. Booth

Elected:           March 10, 1998 Inducted:        September 26, 1998 Joe is 57 years old, has been married to Norma 31 years with three sons, David, Joe Jr. and George. … Read More

Jean J. Julien

Elected:           March 10, 1998 Inducted:        September 26, 1998 Jean Jacques Julien, married to wife Danielle for 20 years and has two children.  A daughter Julie, 20 and a… Read More

Dan O. Willsey

Elected:           March 10, 1998 Inducted:        September 26, 1998 Born:                July 23, 1937 in Yakima, Washington 1954-1958       U.S. Navy Electricians Mate 2nd Class Honorable Discharge 1958-1965       Clark Supply, Inc.,… Read More

Garvin W. Robertson

Elected:           March 10, 1998 Inducted:        September 26, 1998 Born:                November 21, 1940 in Alvaton, Kentucky.  Bill and his brothers and sister lived in the home of their foster… Read More

William G. Ours

Elected:           March 10, 1998 Inducted:        September 26, 1998 Born:                October 17, 1938 in Akron, Ohio.  His family moved to Hebron, Ohio when he was six years old. Married:         … Read More

Mary K. Cooper

Elected:           March 12, 1999 Inducted:        August 21, 1999 Mary Katherine Kollman Cooper, or Katy as she is known to all was born July 9, 1936.  After her schooling… Read More

Jeffrey I. Badgley

Elected:           March 12, 1999 Inducted:        August 21, 1999 Jeffrey I. Badgley was born April 8, 1952 to Charles and Betty Badgley, the youngest of three children, in Hobart… Read More

James E. Hoagland

Elected:           March 12, 1999 Inducted:        August 21, 1999 James E. Hoagland was born on April 1, 1929 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  Prior to graduating from school, he enlisted… Read More

Gene Gratzer

Gene was born April 15, 1940 in Tacoma, Washington and still makes his home in Tacoma with his wife Paula. Gene has 3 grown children from a prior… Read More

Carvel Gay

Elected:           March 12, 1999 Inducted:        August 21, 1999 Carvel began his career in 1965, with the purchase of his first service station.  Selling gas, checking under the hood,… Read More

Axel H. Tischer

Elected:           March 12, 1999 Inducted:        August 21, 1999 The Tischer Company (Tischer Fahrzeugbau) was founded in 1988 in Cham, Germany.  Before forming his own company, Axel Tischer worked… Read More

Arturo Cortez

Elected:           March 12, 1999 Inducted:        August 21, 1999 Mr. Arturo Cortez Gonzalez was born in 1941.  The oldest of eight brothers and sisters in a low-class family.  He… Read More

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