Danny Horton
Danny was born in Kingsport TN in 1951. He began working with Henry’s wrecker service in 1970 and is employed today by Atlantic Emergency Solutions having worked for various companies in the industry over the last 47 years. His son Dallas owns and operates Horton’s Wrecker Service in Virginia.
Danny has held several positions in State and National associations such as TRAA, VATRO, and TRPM throughout the years. He was the Vice Chairman of the TRAA Education Foundation & Committee and a longtime proponent of safety for the industry. In addition he was an original Trustee of the association. As the Vice Chair of the original Committee Danny was one of the key people who participated in writing and guiding the TRAA National Driver Certification Program Level 1 which would become the first federal accredited training & certification program for tow operators in the nation. He designed and recreated the Driver Certification logo still in use today and in the first year of its inception certified and tested over 400 operators nationwide.
In 1988 working closely with his good friend Dave Jones Danny helped launch the TOWED program which helped to eliminate impaired drivers on holiday nights and periods. This program became nationally recognized and was recognized by the President and the White House.
Danny was an accident reconstruction specialist and in 2000 helped organize and co-ordinate what was one of the first inter agency demonstrations at WREX 2000 performing tractor trailer recoveries. This style of cross training is widely used today across the country.
Danny was an intricate part of the Virginia Towing and Recovery Operators early on working closely with Betty Cornwell and became one of the first instructors for Ross Kinman programs the original training and certification classes that traveled across the country educating operators on safety and best practices.
In 2003 Danny was recognized by VATRO and received the Henry Heath memorial Award for his contributions to the association. He has been involved in his community as a coach and sponsor of several youth programs and teams.
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.