ATHS names 2024 Hall of Fame inductees
The American Truck Historical Society has named its 2024 class of inductees to the American Trucking and Industry Hall of Fame.
Those inductees will be honored for their contribution to the trucking industry during a ceremony on Oct. 23 at ATHS headquarters in Kansas City, Mo.
Robert Young, ABF
Young purchased Arkansas Motor Freight Lines Inc. in 1951, and under his leadership, the company became one of the nation’s largest less-than-truckload carriers. Then in 1966, Young formed the multi-million-dollar holding company Arkansas Best Corporation, which would become ABF Freight System Inc. in 1980. Known as ArcBest Corporation today, the company employs over 15,000 across 250 campuses and service centers.
John Ruan, Ruan Transportation
Ruan traded in his family car to buy a truck during the Great Depression, and Ruan Transportation was founded. Just months later, the company expanded to a three-truck operation. And two years after that, Ruan was managing a fleet of a dozen trucks throughout the Midwest at age 19. The company was the first in the transportation sector in America to implement a formal safety program. Ruan Transportation is credited with developing the first truck capable of driving 1 million miles without major repairs and with introducing programs to reduce emission. The company now operates 4,000 power units and 10,000 trailers, employing more than 5,000.
Marvin Rush, Rush Enterprises
Rush founded Rush Enterprises as a single-truck dealership in Houston in 1965. He grew the company by creating a network of dealerships offering truck sales, leasing and service throughout the southern United States. In 1967, the company made its first 100-unit fleet sale of Peterbilt trucks. The company expanded its truck leasing, finance and insurance services through the 1980s, and by 1992, the company exceeded $100 million in revenue. Today, annual revenue exceeds $7 billion across more than 200 dealership and affiliate locations across North America.
Fred Jones, ThermoKing
A pioneer, Jones designed and patented an air-cooling unit for trucks. In addition to their use in transporting food, drugs and blood plasma, the cooling systems were used to air condition field hospitals and cockpits. Jones’ invention was used by the U.S. Department of Defense in World War II. He received over 60 patents and was the first African-American to be elected to the American Society of Refrigeration Engineers in 1944. He also was inducted into the Minnesota Inventors Hall of Fame in 1977 and was awarded the National Medal of Technology in 1991. Both honors were presented posthumously.
In 2023, Harry Kent and Edgar Worthington, founders of Kenworth; Al Schneider and Don Schneider, founders of Schneider National Inc.; Ted Rodgers, first president of the American Trucking Associations; and Frank Seiberling, founder of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, were inducted into the ATHS Hall of Fame.
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association was among the inaugural class of inductees in 2021.
ATHS National Convention and Truck Show
ATHS held its annual convention and truck show June 6-8 in York, Pa. It featured approximately 875 trucks.
“The York Expo Center provided an ideal venue for our event, allowing us to display a wide array of trucks, host vendor booths and offer educational sessions, all within a convenient location,” ATHS Convention Manager Courtney Cesar said.
At the convention, ATHS announced award winners honored for their involvement with and consecutive years of service to the trucking industry:
Golden Achievement Award (50+ years of dedication)
Charles Oliver Brown – Westminster, S.C.
Jim Eisenhard – Macungie, Pa.
Mark Henderson – Weedsport, N.Y.
Paul Kauffman – Belleville, Pa.
Maxwell Keough – Logan, Utah (formerly Sydney, Australia)
Larry Martin – Reinholds, Pa.
Dan Melone – Andover, Mass.
Billy Parker – Norwood, N.C.
Lenny Wild – Newton, Kan.
ATHS Historian Award
Don Arnauckas – Oakville, Conn.
Dick Callaway – Tryon, N.C.
ATHS Distinguished Service Award
Henry Fowler – Mechanicsville, Md.
Carolyn Vannatta – Leonardtown, Md.
Museum Recognition
George Kirkham, Kirkham International Truck Museum – Alberta, Canada
50-Year Company Award
Parker’s Garage – Gig Harbor, Wash.
75-Year Company Award
Makovsky Brothers – Whitehill, Pa.
2024 ATHS scholarship winners
George Schroyer Memorial Scholarships
Cash McCord – Tipton, Ind., son of ATHS member Shaun McCord
Deo Read IV – Red Hook, N.Y., son of ATHS member Deo Wilson Read III.
Cummins Scholarship
John Goodfellow – Lyman, S.C., grandson of ATHS life member Marty Glomb
Lewis Semple Clarke Educational Fund
Anna Rhodus – Shawnee, Kan., granddaughter of ATHS member Leo Rieke
“ATHS extends its heartfelt thanks to all volunteers and sponsors who contributed to the success of the National Convention and Truck Show,” ATHS Executive Director John Gravley said. LL