Washington towman receives national award

WASHINGTON — George Moore, of Moore's BP Amoco in Washington, was recently recognized with the Prestigious Towman Award by the American Towman organization.

“The Cross of The Order … is awarded to a towing professional for his or her dedication to the towing trade and for serving the community,” a news release from the American Towmen said. “Receiving the Cross of the Order, Moore entered into an elite organization of professionals nationwide, the Towman Order.”

Moore was nominated by former Washington Fire Chief Tom Wide.

“There’s a handful of tow truck drivers around and they’re all good,” Wide said. “George is one of the local ones, and he’s really good to work with, does his portion of the job safely, promptly, and being a local person he supports our causes so it was a good gesture to turn around and support him.”

That nomination was made in 2018, but Moore’s acceptance of it was delayed until November by a busy schedule and pandemic-related cancellations.

“It took us four years, but you have to go to the convention to receive the award,” Moore’s wife and the business’ co-owner Anita said. “It was a very touching ceremony that they do, they’re very particular about this ceremony.”

While George is a longtime advocate of towing crew safety, his wife said the work was often nerve-wracking.

“Our departments, the departments that he works with, are great at their jobs,” she said. “But you can have all the lights going, you can be as safe as you can be, and there’s still somebody that’s not paying attention.”

Moore said the award recognized what was often thankless work.

“We’re kind of a first responder … we have to go out and get the roads up safely, quickly, so that the traveling public can go on,” he said “Whether we get paid every time for that or not is completely irrelevant.”

All in all, he said the honor was humbling.

“I didn’t know this award even existed, to be honest with you, and to receive recognition from your peers is always a very humbling experience,” Moore said. “I didn’t expect to be rewarded or awarded this for doing my job, it’s very gratifying.”

Moore is a longtime advocate for towing crew safety, often seen wearing a shirt that reads “slow down, move over.” He credited much of his success to the support of the emergency responders he works with.

“They’ve made themselves very accessible to us. If we need help in a situation where we don’t feel comfortable, all we need to do is pick up the phone and they’ll come,” he said. “That means an awful lot, and sometimes they don’t get the thanks they deserve because they’re putting themselves in harm’s way too.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com