Gladys E. Johnston

Gladys Johnston was a person of considerable commitment and achievement. She fulfilled the admission requirements to the Hall of Fame in all respects. Her contributions to, and on behalf of the towing industry are many, any one of which alone would support her election to the Hall of Fame. Just to name a few, Gladys spent forty-four years of her life making the towing industry better for us all. She served CTTA as Treasurer; Third, Second and First Vice Presidents; Convention Chairman four years, including 1992 and twelve years on the Board of Directors. On a local level she was the first and only woman President of the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce and the only woman on the Board for eleven years. She was also the first woman President of the San Diego Towing Contractors Association. Gladys served as Vice-President-and Treasurer of the Girl’s Club of East County, and a member of Soroptimist International for twenty-one years where she held every office, and was the first Regional Treasurer of the Desert Coast Region.

Gladys was also active in politics in both La mesa and in the California State Legislature. She was presented with an Assembly Resolution by the Honorable Carol Bentley at the California Tow Truck Convention in Palm Springs, April 21, 1991. This resolution graciously acknowledged the many contributions made by Gladys Johnston to her industry, community and State.

Despite all of her accomplishments, Gladys Johnston never lost her femininity and earned the “Exceptional Achievement Award” from the Woman’s Advocate, a national magazine. Gladys Johnston died March 12, 1992 just a few short months before her scheduled Induction into the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame. She leaves a tremendous void in both her community and industry, but left a rich legacy for others to follow.