Letters to the Editor: Mac McCormick, Fuel Prices, Driver Shortage

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b> Mac McCormick

Editor’s Note: The following is a statement entered into the Congressional Record Oct. 30.

I rise today to pay tribute to the life of a distinguished businessman, community leader and friend, Mac McCormick, who passed away on Oct. 26. Mac’s dedication to the state of Indiana kept him involved in public service throughout his life, and I know that he will be greatly missed.

Mac was a good and decent man who dedicated his life to serving others. From his work in economic development to his involvement with Vincennes University, his career was filled with acts of conscientious service on behalf of friends, family members and Hoosiers across Indiana.

Mac came from a long line of distinguished Hoosier public servants, including his father, Jim McCormick, and his grandfather, Clarence McCormick. I have had the privilege of knowing the McCormick family for many years and have seen firsthand the difference his efforts have made in our state. The contributions Mac made through his leadership and philanthropy touched countless lives, and his dedication and good humor made him a role model for a generation of Hoosiers.

In 1981, Mac started Bestway Express Inc., with four trucks. Through his skillful over-sight, it grew to the 400-truck operation it is today. Over the past quarter-century, Mac had used that same tireless dedication and business savvy to serve the people of Indi-ana. As a board member of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, he helped ensure a bright future for the working men and women of our state, and his service to Vincennes University as a member of the board of trustees and vice president of the nonprofit Jamac Corp. exemplified his spirit of philanthropy.

Mac is survived by father Clarence J. “Jim” McCormick; stepmother Marilyn McCormick; brothers Mike and Pat McCormick; sister Jane Wissell; sons Will, Ry and Eli McCor-mick; and partner Andree Neal.

A lifelong Hoosier, Mac served in leadership roles in numerous trucking trade associa-tions, including Truck PAC, Truckload Carriers Association and Indiana Motor Truck Association. In July, he was chosen as the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s 2006 Business Leader of the Year. He was set to assume the chairmanship of American Trucking Associations, where he previously had served as vice chairman. It is a rare man who can make such an impact on so many people over the course of one life. Hoosiers will miss Mac as a friend, a community leader and a committed advocate for our state.

It is my sad duty to enter the name of Clarence J. “Mac” McCormick III in the official record of the United States Senate for his service to the state of Indiana.

Evan Bayh

i> U.S. Senate

ndianapolis

Mac McCormick

Mac McCormick’s death is a great loss for the industry he served so well, but a personal loss to all of us who knew him. He was a natural leader in the McCormick tradition — his father was a great American Trucking Associations chairman in 1970.

Losing Mac as he was about to take the chairmanship of ATA could not be more tragic. He was always plainspoken and a true inspiration. He will be greatly missed.

Ross Gassoin

i> Retired

ilver Eagle Manufacturing

acoma, Wash.

Fuel Prices

It appears the oil companies are still propping up the price of gasoline with diesel prices, as diesel costs a third or less per gallon to produce. The lower gas prices look good for Bush & Co.’s election, but the gouging will commence once again just as soon as the election of the new crooks is over.

We now have OPEC cutting output to get the prices back up to $75-plus per barrel, so they can continue to gorge themselves on petrodollars. Well I, for one, say to increase the price of wheat and corn products and all other food supplies we send them to match the greedy prices they are charging for their product. That way, our farmers would get the better prices they deserve.

Or maybe we could just let them eat their oil and see how they like that.

It’s time to stop gouging the trucking industry on diesel prices. We don’t go joyriding in our trucks or on vacation. We deliver a badly needed service.

Mike Shevlin

i> Owner-Operator

hevlines

vansville, Ind.

Driver Shortage

I have been in the truck-driving school business for more than 20 years and I find this year to be the worst yet for being able to find funding for driving schools.

I have so many people who want to get into the trucking industry and I have no way of being able to do this. I have done a lot of business with Workforce Investment Act pro-grams. Now, I am being told that funding for truck-driving schools will not be granted. This concerns me very much.

I have heard this week that about six schools in the Dallas-Fort Worth area have closed because of lack of funding. I think the government needs to realize that without truck drivers, America will stop. Someone, please help us to find funding!

Sue Hunt

i> Director of Admissions

TDS Truck Driving School

lm Mott, Texas

These letters appear in the November 13 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.