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: Bill married Diana Sue Clark on December 20, 1958. They have two sons,
Kevin W. Ours age 37 and Greg W. Our, age 34.
William G. Ours went into business January 1, 1959 when he purchased his father’s Shell gas and service station that had been established in 1945. He built his first tow truck in 1962 out of a 1952 Dodge beverage truck that had belonged to his brother-in-law. June 1962, he began providing AAA emergency road service and operating on a 24 hour basis. The fleet has since grown to include eight towing and recovery units, two rollbacks, 2 heavy duty road service units, a tractor, Landoll trailer, air cushion recovery system and various other pieces of equipment. The 76th unit will be the next addition to the fleet.
Bill joined the Professional Towers of Ohio in 1983. He is currently President of the Towing and Recovery Association of Ohio. He has also served as a board member, Vice President and Regional President. Bill received the association’s Leadership Award in 1993. In 1989, he was named to the American Towman 500. Bill has received awards from various civic associations and fire departments including being named Citizen of the Year by the Licking County Commissioners in 1994 and inducted into the Hebron High School Hall of Fame in 1993. He is also President of the Hebron Business Association, a Master Mason, 32nd Degree Scottish Rite and a Shriner. Bill Ours was honored as the WreckMaster of the Year in 1996.
He continues to work very hard to improve the image of the tower in the eyes of the public which can be seen in every facet of his business right down to the condition of the office. Bill believes strongly in educating and training tow operators whether they are his own team members or a fellow tower. He has hosted several training weekends and has provided for a client corporation to donate tank trailers to TRAO for training purposes. Bill is also Ohio’s representative to the TRAA Board of Directors, the Council of State Towing Associations and a member of the Friends of Towing.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ITRHFM- HALL OF FAME NOMINATION FORM
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.