WOODRIDGE, Ill. — Charles L. “Chuck” Small garnered “A Golden Achievement Award”
from the American Truck Historical Society (ATHS) during luncheon ceremonies
April 25.
Arnold J. Braasch, past president of the society, presented Small with a plaque
lauding the 57-year veteran of Hendrickson for “over 50 years of dedicated
service to the trucking industry.”
Small, accompanied by his wife of 53 years, Gen, accepted the award in the
company of colleagues and friends made during a distinguished career in the
trucking industry.
Braasch also presented an award to Hendrickson recognizing the company for more
than 50 years of service in the trucking industry. John Boler, chairman of The
Boler Company, accepted the plaque for Hendrickson.
The award reads: For more than fifty years of service to the trucking industry.
Your name is well known and respected for service and integrity. The company
efforts, through many changes in regulations, technology and customer demands,
have contributed to make the industry the life line of the nation.
Joining Hendrickson as a draftsman in 1947, Small worked his way up to the
director of engineering and marketing for the suspension group and currently
serves as vice president. “As director of engineering, Small became an icon to
much of the trucking industry,” noted Roger Jable, director of engineering for
Hendrickson Truck Suspension Systems.
Small served as a pilot in the Air Force during World War II flying B-24 bombers
and P38 fighters. He and his wife reside in Glen Ellyn, Ill. He and his wife
raised two sons, John and Chuck Small.
ATHS officials joining Braasch in the salute were William Schutt, Windy City
Chapter president; Bill Hennings, Windy City Chapter vice president; John Kutska,
Windy City Chapter treasurer; Marty Mersch, regional Illinois vice president,
Gene Buchanan, Beer City Chapter member and owner of two restored Hendrickson
trucks, and Wayne Hendrickson, member and descendant of Hendrickson founder
Magnus Hendrickson.
Among many co-workers and friends at the luncheon were Boler; John Walker, The
Boler Company president and CEO; Joe Ross, Hendrickson president, and Steve
Andrews, general manager, Hendrickson Truck Suspension Systems.
Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., ATHS boasts an active group of 22,000
admitted “truck nuts” striving to preserve the history of the motor truck
transportation industry through collections of artifacts, information,
photographs and other relevant materials. The society publishes Wheels of Time
six times a year.
Hendrickson, a Boler company, is one of the largest global suppliers of truck
and tractor suspensions, trailer suspensions, truck and trailer lift axles,
bumpers and trim components and springs to the commercial transportation
industry. Headquartered in Itasca, Ill., Hendrickson has been meeting the needs
of the transportation industry for more than 90 years. |
Braasch (left) and Small (right)
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