Coeburn resident receives American Towman ACE Award
Thomas Whitman, 68, of Wise County, VA received the American Towman ACE Award during the ACE Award
Ceremony in Baltimore, Md.. Whitman runs Big Bertha’s Tow, a towing and roadside assistance service, based in
Coeburn, Virginia. The ACE Award ranks Big Bertha’s Towing in the TOP 1% of nationwide towing operations for
Service Reliability & Professionalism.
Recipients are nominated by the nation's major motor clubs and dispatch centers. Nomination guidelines include the
highest percentage of calls when the estimated time of arrival is achieved, consistency in response time, written
appreciation from customers and the percentage of calls serviced reflecting reliability and overall professionalism.
The award is presented by American Towman Magazine, the leading publication serving emergency road service
professionals.
Mr. Whitman is a decorated Vietnam veteran serving with the U.S Air Force, a retired sea going ship’s Master from
the U.S. Merchant Marine Service, and is retired from the Department of Defense as an OSHA compliance officer. Mr.
Whitman received his associates degree in Laser Electro-Optics from the San Diego Community College and a
bachelor of science degree in business from National University in San Diego, CA. Mr. Whitman is a Certified
Telecommunications Engineer and a member of the National Association of Radio Telecommunications and Electro-
Magnetics (NARTE). He currently holds a First Class Radiotelegraph license with the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) certification. Mr. Whitman is a lifetime member of the Coeburn VFW Post.
Mr. Whitman returned to the Coeburn, VA area in 1999 as caretaker of his mother, Lucille (Sands) Drane. Mr.
Whitman has seven children seven grand children, and three great grand children and is married to former Ms.
Janice Ackerman of Baltimore, MD.
Thomas Whitman, 68, of Wise County, VA received the American Towman ACE Award during the ACE Award
Ceremony in Baltimore, Md.. Whitman runs Big Bertha’s Tow, a towing and roadside assistance service, based in
Coeburn, Virginia. The ACE Award ranks Big Bertha’s Towing in the TOP 1% of nationwide towing operations for
Service Reliability & Professionalism.
Recipients are nominated by the nation's major motor clubs and dispatch centers. Nomination guidelines include the
highest percentage of calls when the estimated time of arrival is achieved, consistency in response time, written
appreciation from customers and the percentage of calls serviced reflecting reliability and overall professionalism.
The award is presented by American Towman Magazine, the leading publication serving emergency road service
professionals.
Mr. Whitman is a decorated Vietnam veteran serving with the U.S Air Force, a retired sea going ship’s Master from
the U.S. Merchant Marine Service, and is retired from the Department of Defense as an OSHA compliance officer. Mr.
Whitman received his associates degree in Laser Electro-Optics from the San Diego Community College and a
bachelor of science degree in business from National University in San Diego, CA. Mr. Whitman is a Certified
Telecommunications Engineer and a member of the National Association of Radio Telecommunications and Electro-
Magnetics (NARTE). He currently holds a First Class Radiotelegraph license with the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) certification. Mr. Whitman is a lifetime member of the Coeburn VFW Post.
Mr. Whitman returned to the Coeburn, VA area in 1999 as caretaker of his mother, Lucille (Sands) Drane. Mr.
Whitman has seven children seven grand children, and three great grand children and is married to former Ms.
Janice Ackerman of Baltimore, MD.
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