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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William R. Houston

William R. Houston (Randy Houston) was born in 1953 in Omak, Washington. He is the eldest of three boys and a third generation tower. His parents, William F.… Read More

Lavern Gibson

Lavern began his towing career while in high school towing for his father’s service station with a 1948 ¾ ton pick-up and a Manley hand crank winch and… Read More

Larry Lancaster

What began as a young man’s love for cars, eventually spanned into a 46 year career and the building of one of the most successful towing businesses in… Read More

Ken Nikko

Ken Nikko was born on January 24, 1944. He attended school in Issaquah, Washington and graduated in 1963. Upon graduating he had a gas station with his father… Read More

George W. Bakker, Sr.

George Bakker grew up across the street from the family business. This gave him exposure to the towing and recovery business at a very young age. Watching his… Read More

Gary W. Pipes

Gary W. Pipes was born in 1943 in Cora, Montana. He began his towing career with one small truck in 1972. By the year 2000, he had built… Read More

Douglas Nelson

Doug was born in 1945 in Toronto, Ontario. He is one of 7 children. He entered the automotive industry in 1960. In 1961 Doug was first introduced to… Read More

Donna Lynn Brock

Donna Lynn Brock was born in 1952 in Cincinnati, Ohio. She graduated GlenEsteHigh School in 1970, and began working for the automotive industry in 1974. At age… Read More

Kenneth ‘Ken’ G. Cruse

Ken was born September 21, 1946 in TorontoOntario, Canada. He and his wife Anne were married on February 19, 1996. The two have seven children between them from… Read More

Darrel E. Carmichael

Darrel was born September 18, 1944, in Richmond, Missouri. He was married to Georgia A. Gensler on January 7, 1966. Together, they have two children; Kevin and Christene. … Read More

Bruce Schneider

Bruce was born September 13, 1947, in Portland, Oregon. After graduating high school, he went on to attend the University of Oregon where he also played football as… Read More

Barbara L. Tomlinson

Barbara was born Barbara L. Lumberg on January 15, 1939 in Ashland, Wisconsin and is the eldest of six. She was married to William Tomlinson on January 5,… Read More