NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 22, 2000)—The International Tire and Rubber Association ushered in a new slate of officers and directors for the coming year and honored several industry leaders during the World ITRA Expo in Nashville, May 1-3.
The association elected Robert Sherwood, of Tristani Retreading Corp. & Rubber Industries Inc., Bayamon, Puerto Rico, as president, replacing Randy Drake, of McGriff Treading Co., Cullman, Ala., who stepped down after a two-year term.
Tom Raben, of Raben Tire Co., Evansville, Ind., was named vice president, and Richard Gust, of Lakin General Corp. in Chicago, secretary-treasurer.
Messrs. Drake, Raben and Gust also were re-elected to three-year terms as ITRA directors, along with John Olson, of Olson Tire Service, Mount Pleasant, Mich.
The group´s membership also approved the appointment of Jimmy Crews, of Tire Treads Inc., Jackson, Tenn., to finish the remaining two years of board member Gord MacKenzie, who has stepped down from that post. Mr. MacKenzie recently retired from Fountain Tire OTR Ltd. in Kamloops, British Columbia.
Harrell Huneycutt, of Bandag Inc., Muscatine, Iowa, was named to the ITRA Advisory Council for a two-year term.
ITRA also presented several awards during the Expo.
Purcell Tire & Rubber Co., of Potosi, Mo., and Michael Rouse, owner of Rouse Polymerics International, Vicksburg, Miss., received the Industry Leadership Award recognizing individuals or companies that provide overall leadership and innovation for products and services to foster and promote the international transportation industry.
Among Mr. Rouse´s accomplishments, he led the development of tire-derived fuel and coined the "TDF" acronym in the late 1970s.
Robert Purcell and his wife, Juanita, owners of Purcell Tire, have been instrumental in encouraging new ideas in the industry, the ITRA said. Purcell Tire, founded in 1936 by Mr. Purcell´s father, has grown into one of the largest commercial truck tire dealerships in the U.S., with 45 service centers, six retread plants and a fleet that provides pickup and delivery of tires in 41 states. °
The Pioneer Award, honoring individuals and companies for developing or implementing products and services for the international tire and transportation industry, went to Gene Beck, of Beck Tire International, Kansas City, Mo., and Mr. Olson, of Olson Tire Service.
Mr. Beck, whose company recycles aircraft tires and collects used tires that are diverted to reuse, recycling and energy recovery markets, was recognized for his work encouraging tire recycling.
ITRA singled out Mr. Olson, owner of a retail and commercial dealership in Michigan, for his pioneering efforts, including the launch in the 1980s of an envelope-expanding device for use in his own retread business. He later began offering expanders to the industry and has sold more than 2,300 to date.
ITRA´s Friend of the Industry Award was given to Gary Shaw, director of the highway department in Grey County, Ontario.
The award recognizes well-known individuals who are allies and proven supporters of the international transportation industry.
Mr. Shaw has spearheaded the collection of all scrap tires generated in the county for use in asphalt-rubber paving projects, ITRA said.
The association also inducted the 36th and 37th members into the International Tire & Rubber Industry Hall of Fame: Harvey Brodsky, managing director of the Tire Retread Information Bureau, whose efforts in support of retreading have earned him the reputation as the "voice of retreading´´; and the late Winston W. "Bill" Marsh, a former executive director of the National Tire Dealers & Retreaders Association, now the Tire Association of North America.