Mark S. Anderson
Elected: March 10, 1998
Inducted: September 26, 1998
Mark was born on October 9, 1948, the eldest of six children of Dr. Ernest T. and Wanda B. Anderson of Rochester, NY. Mark grew up in the Greater Rochester area of Western New York State. Mark is married to Deb Gentry Anderson, their children include Eric Stephen Anderson, Dana Marie (Diego) Florez and Emily Gentry O’Quinn and Caroline E. Gentry.
Mark is a graduate of Penfield High School (’66) Houghton College B.A. (’70) and is a graduate of the Institute of Biblical Studies which recognized his time spent at the University of California at Riverside (’70), Cornell University (’71) Purdue University (’73) and Colorado State University (’74) in pursuit of a M.A. Degree in Theology. Mark was ordained in 2013.
Mark is President and Owner of International Recovery Associates, Inc. founded in 1982, to present to the towing and recovery industry a forum of training classes independent of any manufacturer bias. Mark served as TRAA’s Training and Membership Director and concurrently worked with The American Towman magazine as a contributing editor, writing articles and answering reader questions in an educational form sponsored by Ramsey Winch of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Markl compiled a series of more than 20 towing/recovery training videos, specifically designed to enhance and solidify seminar training experiences. He has conducted training demonstrations and seminars for 22 years. Mark was a contributing author and consultant for TRAA’s Light-Duty, Medium-Duty and Heavy-Duty training manuals and in the development of the Levels 1 and 3 National Certification Test, lectured in TRAA’s Heavy-Duty 3 Volume Video Series, and served as a network instructor for TRAA. Mark is Nationally Certified as a Level 1, Light-Duty; Level 2 Master Tower and Level 3 Heavy Recovery Specialist.
In early 1994, WTRAA awarded Mark “The Distinguished Service Award” for his contribution towards TRAA’s Education Foundation, adding to his TRAA Presidential Distinguished Service Awards received in 1991 and 1994. Mark was selected as an outstanding Young Men of America in 1981 and recently into Who’s Who in the South and Southwest 1995-1996. Mark was honored by Galleon Research Institute and the Galleon Explorers Club of Palm Bay, Florida for his efforts in helping salvage the 1715 Spanish Galleon Fleet off the Treasure Coast of Florida in 1995. Mark was honored by The International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame & Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee as a principal corporate benefactor for the new museum and was chosen to be on the Education Committee to help give direction to the Learning Center. Again in 1995, Mark was elected to the International Institute of Towing and Recovery Board of Directors as part of the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education and presently serves IITR Treasurer and Co-Chairperson for the TRAA Education Committee. Since his induction in 1998, he has founded The International Recovery Group, Inc. and Sea-Air-Land Recovery, Inc. both in Catawba County, NC.
Mark’s ability to communicate his knowledge of recovery and air cushion lifting techniques in highway tractor-trailer and tanker recovery, aircraft lifting, and underwater salvage, as well as his diverse interests and experience give him well-rounded insight into our business. Mark’s contributions and commitment to professional education, safety and national certification for towing and recovery is significant and helps earn him a place in the Hall of Fame.