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.

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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 Gonzalez

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

M. Dennis ‘Denny’ Jones

Elected: April 14, 2000 Inducted: September 22, 2000 A native of the northwest, Denny and his wife Shirley have raised 6 children and presently have 17 grandchildren. Since… Read More

Leonard W. Schultz

Elected: April 14, 2000 Inducted: September 22, 2000 Leonard Schultz and his wife Eileen were married in 1954 and between them had eight children, three of whom now… Read More

Larry G. Cernosek

Elected: April 14, 2000 Inducted: September 22, 2000 Larry G. Cernosek was born in 1953 in Houston, Texas. He has been married to his wife Linda for 22… Read More

Janetta R. Bowman

Elected: April 14, 2000 Inducted: September 22, 2000 Janetta R. Bowman was born in Cadiz, Kentucky in 1947. She came into the towing and recovery business through her… Read More

Evelyn M. Harden

Elected: April 14, 2000 Inducted: September 22, 2000 Evelyn and Jim Harden were married in December, 1961 and together they have raised two children, Cheri and Randy, although… Read More

Andrew A. Hovanes, Jr.

Elected: April 14, 2000 Inducted: September 22, 2000 Andy, Jr. never married so has had no children, however is close to his brothers Steve and Jerry who are… Read More

Terry R. Humelsine

Elected: April 5, 2001 Inducted: August 17, 2001 Born: July 11, 1941 in Hagerstown, Maryland Terry Humelsine first entered the towing and recovery industry while still in high… Read More

Stanley E. Copeland

Elected: April 5, 2001 Inducted: August 17, 2001 Born: February 16, 1928 – Bradford West Gwilliambury Township, Ontario Stan Copeland married his wife Muriel in 1952 and together… Read More