Awards
Established in 1968, the Silver Spark Plug Award is TMC’s highest honor. The award is given to Council members who have:
Given five years active service in support of TMC leadership and/or activities, preferably technically oriented.
Earned the respect of their peers, clearly demonstrated industry leadership, and hold current Full Member or Associate Member status.
Contributed new ideas, practices, or innovations in the management and maintenance of commercial motor vehicle technology.
To date, TMC has bestowed more than 225 Silver Spark Plug awards.
Click here to nominate an individual for TMC's Silver Spark Plug Award.
TMC SILVER SPARK PLUG RECIPIENTS
Listed by year of presentation
(*Deceased)
1968
Charles Rose*
George Wilson*
1969
Charles Brokowsky*
Orville Brouer*
Thomas Harmon*
1971
Andrew Ambli*
Ward Bennett*
Jimmy Black*
Eugene Bruha*
J. L. Brundage*
Robert Douglas*
W. Frank Eaton*
J. Hardy Hurst*
Charles Nassimbene
Owen Negangard*
Bert Ogden*
Frank Plovick*
Gil Putnam*
William Royston*
Don Strout *
John Zabel, Jr.*
1972
Edward Ashbury*
Jim Jones*
J.C. (Pat) Paterson*
Ed Shea*
Hugh Watts*
1973
Ray Diefendorf*
Ralph Giddings*
Thomas Gordon*
Paul Hughes
Ambrose Ilg*
Robert Lehman*
Tom Mannix
Ralph Willey*
1974
Russ Dowd*
Donald B. Wilson*
1975
D.G. (Rick) DeBord*
Norman Deckard*
Robert Gardner*
Lloyd Gonyou
Stan Keel*
David Paul
Al Sontag*
Horst Volliner
1976
Bob Sargent
Ron Turley*
John W. McCormack*
1977
Lewis C. Kibbee*
Jim May*
1978
James Bald*
Arnie Carlson
Malcolm Pierson*
Dave Rupert*
1979
Bert Bessert*
Carl Granfors
Harold Sullivan
1980
Brian Wheeler
1981
Bob Deierlein*
Raymond Gorman*
Jay Lumb
W.Y. (Bill) Pate*
1982
Bob Deal*
Gap Sparacio
1984
James Dermody*
William Gibson*
Dean Hartley
Bob Stayton *
John Sukala, Sr.*
Tom Tahaney
James Walker*
1985
Murrey Alderfer
Joe Broder*
Charles Jaynes
Paul Manwiller
Robert Rosenthal
Gerry Schlensker
Kenneth VanLiew*
James Winsor*
1986
J.W. (Slim) Robertson
1987
Ed Jones*
Asa Sharp
Charlie Tyrrell
1988
Peggy Fisher
Blaine Johnson
1989
Frank Bright
Donald Dawson*
Gerald Kreaden
Robert Smith
1990
Robert Flesher
John Sullivan
1991
John Arndt*
Thomas McNorton
Richard Petrut
Howard Stirk
Robert Wessels
1992
Chuck Blake
David Hammes
Darrell Hicks*
Ron Jacobsen*
Bill Joyce*
1993
Bruce Purkey
C. Oren Summer
1994
Lew Flowers
Ollie Knight
Bill Stahl
1995
Paul Abelson
Duke Drinkard
Al Lesesky
Guy Rini
1996
Tara Banerjea
Sid Gooch
David Laubie
Donald C. Wilson*
William (Bill) Wood
1997
Joe Fleming
David Foster
Ken Johnson
Dick Sippl
Bill Wolterstorff
1998
Eileen Wessels
James Blitz*
J. Pete Paquette*
Darry Stuart
Vincent Ursini
1999
Hershel Brown*
Eileen Lindberg
Kevin Otto
2000
Sam Cross
Paul Martin*
Jim Salas
Bob Tanis
2001
Al Cohn
Charles Groeller
Richard Muth
Tom Smego
J. David Walters
2002
Larry Strawhorn
Carl Smith
Al Anderson
Guy Walenga
Thomas E. Newby, Sr.
2003
Marc Clark
Tom Cuthbertson
Gary Gaussoin
Mike Jeffress
John Martin
Bradley Van Riper*
2004
Victor Suski*
Ken Claar
Herman Miller
Jerry Warmkessel
Dave Rehurek
Carl Kirk
Robert Braswell
2005
Jerry Anderson
Roy Gambrell
Bob Rutherford
Gail Bristow
Jerry Thrift*
Braxton Vick
2006
Brent Hilton
Mark Kachmarsky
Steph Sabo
Jack Sukala
Ron Szapacs
2007
Dave Williams
Mac Whittemore
Joe Stianche
John Adami
Brian Strach
2009
Mike Crull
Roger Duff
Mike Goodheart
Mari Skippers
Kevin Tomlinson
2010
Vince Lindley
Roger Maye
Carl Tapp*
Doug White
Bill Byrnes
2011
Jerry Hubbell
Dale Overton
Randy Patterson
Kevin Rohlwing
Chas Voyles
2012
Norm Ball
Doug Jones
Jim LeClaire
Lee Long
Greg Shipman
2013
Kirk Altrichter
Ken Calhoun
Ken DeGrant
Bonne Karim
Ken Kelley
Tony Tierney
2014
Jim Clark
Lilo Hurtado
Bob Jeffries
Mark Louzon
Vic Meloche
Don Raitzer
Dan Umphress
2015
Glen McDonald
Brian Mandt
Rob Nissen
George Arrants
2016
Curtis Cummings
Duane Lippincott
Alex Moutanovsky*
Randy Tumbarello
Rich Winters
2017
Lou Stumpp
Rich Carroll
2018
Todd Cotier
Jeff Harris
Randy Obermeyer
Paul Menig
2019
Dave Dettman
Homer Hogg
Joe Long
Winston Minchew
Larry Rambeaux
2020
Stacy Earnhardt
Fred Kelley
Peter Savage
Paul Wion
2022
Brandon Uzarek
Amanda Schuier
Ken Marko
Jim Boyd
2023
Anita Byrne
Brian Liimatta
Matt Jablon
Jack Poster
2024
David Kegley
Paul Cigala
Radu Mihai
Chris Disantis
TMC Silver Spark Plugs circa 1978
The Recognized Associate Award is presented to individuals in recognition of their contributions in support of TMC projects or services to the industry.
Click here to nominate an individual for TMC's Recognized Associate Award.
TMC Recognized Associates
Paul Abelson
Andy Acott
John Adami
Ted Addison
Murray Alderfer
Charles Anderson
Al Anderson
Jerry Anderson
Justin Anderson
Bruce Askey
Mike Baird
Chuck Bartley
Bert Bessert
Abhishek Bharadwaj
Chuck Blake
Jack Brace
Andrew Brashear
Erin Brennan
Joseph Broder
Bill Bugelski
Walt Byers
Anita Byrne
Bill Byrnes
Wayne Camilli
Paul Campbell
Arnie Carlson
Richard Carroll
Colin Chisholm
Gene Chosy
Paul Cigala
Kenneth Claar
Todd Cross
Robert Crump
Robert Curtis
Tom Cuthbertson
R. Dennis Davison
Rick DeBord
Ralph De Genova
Grant DeGeorge
Ken DeGrant
Tom DeWeerd
Dudley DeWitt
Travis Dintleman
Jimmy Fielding
Peggy Fisher
Jill Gingrich
Steve Glass
Mike Goodheart
Carl Granfors
Bert Grayson
Paul Greenlaw
Charlie Groeller
Ken Hall
Dean Hartley
John Hawker
Steve Hazard
Ray Henry
Darrell Hicks
Sam Hill
Bob Holland
Fred Hopper
John Howe
Lilo Hurtado
Ron Jacobsen
Jerry Justice
Gary Kandel
Stan Keel
George Kent
Dave Kitchell
Alexandra Knight
Ollie Knight
Andrew Krum
Brian Kucera
Wayne Lampen
Mike Langford
Mike Lawshae
Jim LeClaire
Eileen Lindberg
Vince Lindley
Joe Long
Trent Longo
Mark Louzon
Luke Lucas
Nolan MacLaren
Wayne McKitrick
Brian Mandt
Marty Martinelli
Mike McGowan
Brian “Mack” Mackenzie
Tom McNorton
Rod McNulty
John Martin
Roger Maye
Doug Memering
Don Myers
Warren Moody
Rob Nissen
John O’Brion
Mike Ohlinger
John Olson
Kevin Otto
Pete Paquette
Randy Patterson
Gary Pellegrom
Richard Petrut
Frank Plovick
Jimmy Porter
Tom Price
Bruce Purkey
Ralph Raabe
Tom Raleigh
Larry Rambeaux
James Ritchey
Robert Ritter
Earl Roark
Ted Raquet
Bob Rosenthal
Al Ross
Jim Rusy
Robert Rutherford
Del Sauer
Gerry Schlensker
Brant Schneider
Hank Schneider
Chuck Selby
Greg Shipman
Asa Sharp
Tom Sisk
Mari Skippers
Bob Smith
Carl Smith
Ed Smith
Jim Smith
Richard Smith
Glen St. Clair
Bill Stahl
Greg Stattine
Bob Stephens
Brian Strach
William Stratton
Gerry Stratton
Dan Sturmon
John M. Sukala
Jack J. Sukala
Tom Tahaney
Robert Taylor
Bill Tichacek
Tony Tierney
Joe Tobias
Jim Todak
Claude Travis
Brad Umphress
Ed Unger
Vince Ursini
Brandon Uzarek
Ken Van Liew
Harold Vaughn
Jack Vander Giessen
Joe Vicario
Ted Vick
Carl Walker
Jim Walker
J. David Walters
Gene Wantuck
Bo Ward
Jerry Warmkessel
Bob Wells
Bob Wessels
Eileen Wessels
Brian Wheeler
Mac Whittemore
Kathy Widing
Doug Will
Mark Willis
Donald Wilson
Jerry Woerner
William Wood
Steve Woodbeck
Gary Yurko
Jack Zabel, Jr.
William Zieske
Paul Zola
Jack Vander Giessen, Cummins-Meritor, received the 2023 Recognized Associate Award.
This award is presented to those who have demonstrated exemplary efforts toward building TMC membership.
To nominate someone, email tmc@trucking.org and describe why you think a person is worthy of consideration.
GERRI MURPHY MEMBERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS
Murrey Alderfer 2001
Darrell Hicks 2003
James Winsor 2006
Paul Abelson 2009
Jim LeClaire 2011
Bob Flesher 2013
Peggy Fisher 2018
Bo Ward 2020
John Adami 2023
Amanda Schuier 2024
Amanda Schuier is awarded TMC's 2024 Gerri Murphy Membership Leadership Award.
This award is presented to an individual for distinguished leadership as Study Group Chairman and outstanding leadership and contributions to TMC and the transport industry.
To nominate someone, email tmc@trucking.org and describe why you think a person is worthy of consideration.
PEGGY FISHER STUDY GROUP LEADERSHIP AWARD
Peggy Fisher 1986
Don Dawson 1990
Tom Tahaney 1990
Bill Joyce 1990
John Sullivan 1991
C. Oren Summer 1993
Jim Salas 1997
Robert Flesher 1998
Robert Deierlein 1998
Lew Flowers 2000
Dave Williams 2008
Ron Szapacs 2010
Marc Clark 2011
David Foster 2012
Bonne Karim 2013
Brent Hilton 2014
Dave Dettman 2018
Kenneth Calhoun 2020
Ken Marko 2024
Ken Marko receives the 2024 Peggy Fisher Study Group Leadership Award.
This award is presented to those dedicated TMC volunteer members who have demonstrated exemplary efforts while serving as a TMC Study Group Secretary.
To nominate someone, email tmc@trucking.org and describe why you think a person is worthy of consideration.
STUDY GROUP SECRETARY AWARD WINNERS
Trent Longo 2002
Jim Madill 2002
Al Anderson 2003
Rich Carroll 2003
Al Ross 2005
Linda Martz 2006
Jim Smith 2006
Bill Byrnes 2009
Mac Whittemore 2009
Ken Kelley 2010
Roger Lackore 2011
Brian Mandt 2012
Mari Skippers 2013
Lilo Hurtado 2014
Anita Byrne 2015
Alex Knight 2016
Jeff Spitzner 2017
Steve Woodbeck 2018
Andrew Krum 2020
Grant DeGeorge 2022
Andrew Brashear 2024
Andrew Brashear receives the 2024 TMC Study Group Secretary Award.
This award is presented to those dedicated TMC volunteer members who have demonstrated exemplary efforts while serving as a TMC Mentor. To nominate someone, email tmc@trucking.org and describe why you think a person is worthy of consideration.
UNCLE DARRELL MENTOR AWARD
Dave Walters 2023
Bonne Karim & Eileen Wessels 2018
Jim LeClaire 2017
J. David Walters 2023
Brant Schneider 2024
Brant Schneider received TMC's "Uncle Darrell Hicks" Mentor Award for 2024.
EXCELLENCE IN MAINTENANCE SUPERVISION AWARD
Candidates for this award were all employed in direct supervision of maintenance technicians and exhibited superior performance in equipment maintenance supervision. Higher levels of management are not eligible for the award. Click here to nominate someone.
2024 Earl Webb, Online Transport, Inc.
2023 Lonny Sievers, Interstate Carriers, Inc.
2022 James Wenger, US Xpress Enterprises, Inc.
2020 Joe Ard, Southeastern Freight Lines
2019 Pedro Garza, Texas Disposal Systems & Leonard Wheatley, FleetPro, Inc.
2018 Travis Crow, Travel Centers of America
2017 Benjamin Steines, Ruan Transport & Don VanVleet, Swift Transportation
2016 Jason Gagnon, Transport America
2015 Fred Trammel, Transport America
2014 Ricky Barker, Trimac Transportation
2013 Kirk Kabel, Schneider National
2012 Mark McCoy, Swift Transportation
2011 Charles Tom Buckles, United States Postal Service
2010 Brian Shaw, Schneider National
2009 Charlie Weills, Swift Transportation
2008 No Award Gven
2007 Janice Orr, United States Postal Service
2006 Steve Lansdon, Southeastern Freight Lines
2005 Bill Bonde, Brinks; Shanon Peacock, Oakley Transport, Inc.; and Bill Robins, Arrow Trucking Company
Earl Webb, Online Transport, Inc., received the Excellence in Maintenance Supervision Award in 2024.
TMC Corporate Engagement Achievement Award
TMC’s Board of Directors established the new award, which is designed to recognize those companies who exemplify good corporate citizenship in helping to solve the many problems our industry faces, such as technician development and retention issues.
To nominate a member company, email tmc@trucking.org and describe why you think it is worthy of consideration.
“The idea for this award is to catch companies doing the right thing, and we are especially pleased to present our inaugural award to one particular company who exemplifies this,” said TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell. “For many years, Alcoa Wheels has supported TMC activities in an extraordinary manner. They constantly lend support to task force or study group secretary roles that are so important to Council business. Their employees serve on numerous committees at TMC in consistently large numbers and have been instrumental in driving TMC's scholarship partnerships and encouraging student applicants.”
The award criteria include: outstanding dedication and service by a company/organization for outstanding support of TMC activities, programs and thought leadership; respect of peers; and active membership in TMC.
2022 Alcoa Wheels
2024 Purkeys
Larry Rambeaux receives the TMC Corporate Engagement Achievement Award for Purkeys in 2024.