Roger Rinder was born in 1946 of a French father and German mother. He thinks of the union as the first step in the reconciliation of those two nations at the end of World War II. In 1958, at the age of twelve, Roger was struck with polio, and came out a survivor. In 1963…

Roger Barnett was born in 1942 in Bisbee, Arizona. His father, George, worked in a copper mine and also owned a gas station and feed store at which Roger worked growing up. From the age of thirteen, Roger was often left to manage the employees and the stores while his father was working at the…

William R. Houston (Randy Houston) was born in 1953 in Omak, Washington. He is the eldest of three boys and a third generation tower. His parents, William F. and Peggy Houston, owned Houston’s Chevron & Towing, and his grandfather, Charles Houston, owned Chuck’s Auto Service & Towing. Randy is married to Debbie Houston, and they…

Lavern began his towing career while in high school towing for his father’s service station with a 1948 ¾ ton pick-up and a Manley hand crank winch and boom.  It was cute but a handful to tow with single wheels and it took 30 turns to lift a car 3”.  As time passed and the…

What began as a young man’s love for cars, eventually spanned into a 46 year career and the building of one of the most successful towing businesses in North Carolina.  In 1958, Larry Lancaster started up an auto repair business in Concord, North Carolina.  Eventually, as he began to repair more and more automobiles, he…

Ken Nikko was born on January 24, 1944. He attended school in Issaquah, Washington and graduated in 1963. Upon graduating he had a gas station with his father for six months, then joined the service. When he returned in 1965, Ken returned, bought a tow truck, and started Ken’s Towing. He joined the WTTA in…

George Bakker grew up across the street from the family business.  This gave him exposure to the towing and recovery business at a very young age.  Watching his uncle, father, and grandfather operate the business was not only exciting for him, but it sparked his interest in the industry. At the age of 12, George…

Gary W. Pipes was born in 1943 in Cora, Missouri.  He began his towing career with one small truck in 1972. By the year 2000, he had built a large towing operation. He has always taken every opportunity to educate himself and others about towing and recovery. Gary was instrumental and took a key role…