Kenneth G. Cruse
Ken was born September 21, 1946 in TorontoOntario, Canada. He and his wife Anne were married on February 19, 1996. The two have seven children between them from previous marriages and 12 grandchildren. In 1972, Ken, his father Lloyd, and his brother Don, started Cruse’s Towing. The company grew quickly to a fleet of ten trucks and they became a distributor for the Vulcan Cradle Snatcher.
As the years passed and Ken began winning many awards for his expert driving abilities, the Cruse’s began looking at the idea of creating a school to teach towers how to improve their abilities. Ken and Don created and founded DC schools which eventually evolved into WreckMaster, Inc in 1991. Currently, Ken is CEO and Vice President of WreckMaster.
Ken holds an Associates Degree in Business Management from MohawkCollege out of Hamilton, Ontario. He is also a Certified S-Cam Air Brake Instructor, a Certified Breath Analyzer Technician, and is certified in CPR and First Aid.
Ken is currently a member of the Towing & Recovery Association of Ohio (TRAO), Michigan Towing Association (MTA), Empire State Towing & Recovery Association (ESTRA), the International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame & Museum (ITRHFM), and the Towing & Recovery Association of America (TRAA). He serves as chairman of membership for Roadside Assistance Providers Association (RAPA) and has been President of the “Old Cranks of Niagara Car Club” since 2000, an organization of which he is also the founder.
Over the years, Ken has trained tow operators throughout the world to include Hong Kong; ran the very first training seminar at the ITRHFM Class of 2003 Induction; Producer and Editor of the WreckMaster Training Videos; co-author of the original World of Recovery Book and WreckMaster’s Special Interests Book; contributing author to both American Towman and Tow Canada Magazines; and is author to many state association newsletter articles across the United States.
Ken manages to find time outside the business to volunteer an abundance of hours to the Cancer Fund Drive. He is also a large supporter of the “Hospital for Sick Kids”.
Ken plans to continue to improve the towing industry through education. He continues to create new procedures and tools for the recovery world and will for years to come.
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.