Guardian Fleet Services Inc
10/19/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/19/2026 02:53
Three GFS Leaders Named to Towing Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Three of Our Own Are Hall of Famers
Irvin Johns • Jim Jennings • Lee Roberts
Irvin, Jim, and Lee built brands that are now part of our family, and this fall they take their place in the industry's Hall of Fame.
The International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum just announced its Class of 2026, the fortieth class in the museum's history, and three of the nine people being honored are part of the Guardian Fleet Services® family. Irvin Johns founded Suburban Wrecker Service, Jim Jennings led Emerald Transportation, and Lee Roberts built Roberts Heavy Duty Towing. Their dedication, leadership, and heart helped shape the towing and recovery industry.
Three of the nine people in the Hall of Fame's fortieth class are part of the Guardian Fleet Services family.
They will be celebrated at a ceremony in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Saturday, October 17.
CeremonySaturday, October 17, 2026
LocationChattanooga, Tennessee
Class40th Class • 9 Inductees
Meet Our Honorees
Here is a little about each of them.
Irvin Johns
Suburban Wrecker Service • Louisville, KY
Irvin started Suburban back in 1969 with a single used truck and grew it into the largest towing company in Kentucky, with more than 100 trucks and over 80 team members. In 2024 he led the 2nd Street Bridge recovery, which made national news.
He also had a need for speed: as an NHRA drag racer, he became the oldest national event winner in NHRA history and earned a spot in the NHRA North Central Division Hall of Fame in 2025. Irvin passed away in 2024, and we are proud to see him honored this year.
Jim Jennings
Emerald Transportation • Pompano Beach, FL
Jim is a second-generation towing professional with 59 years of family roots in the industry, and he led Emerald Transportation Corp., which has backed up the Florida Highway Patrol since 1964. He founded Towers with a Heart, a nonprofit that funds Move Over safety campaigns across Florida, and helped start the Sunshine State Towing Association.
Today he serves as Vice President of TRAA, and he gave nearly a decade of his time to the Hall of Fame Board of Directors. Tow Times named him Industry Champion in 2019.
Lee Roberts
Roberts Heavy Duty Towing • Lexington, KY
Lee grew Roberts Heavy Duty Towing from one truck into a 66-truck operation with 82 team members, bringing along experience from early in his career in the United Kingdom. He has served on the Hall of Fame Board of Directors, chaired TowCap, and led within the Towing and Recovery Association of Kentucky.
One story says it all: in 2016, after a competitor lost his business to a fire, Lee donated a truck and gave him office space to help him rebuild. His company was also the first the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety recognized for its work on highway safety.
Proud to Call Them Guardian
This honor reflects years of commitment to safety, service, and moving our industry forward.
Please join us in honoring Irvin, Jim, and Lee. We could not be prouder to call them part of the Guardian family.
Join the Guardian Family
Built on the legacy of leaders like Irvin, Jim, and Lee, Guardian Fleet Services is always looking for people who share their commitment to safety and service.
Guardian Fleet Services® | Guardian of the Highways®
Guardian Fleet Services Inc published this content on October 19, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 19, 2026 at 08:53 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]