A salute to outgoing Chairman Terry Kilpatrick

Editor’s note: On Friday, June 29, 2018, Terry Kilpatrick steps down as chairman of the Alabama Trucking Association, yielding leadership to incoming chairman Fenn Church. The men exchanged ATA’s Chairman’s Gavel at a ceremony at the Association’s headquarters in Montgomery on Tuesday, June 26. The following tribute was penned by ATA President and CEO Frank Filgo.

By Frank Filgo

One of the best things about my job is the opportunity to serve as staff executive to the ATA Chairman of the Board. Each year, a new ATA Chairman takes office for a one-year term beginning July 1. Over the years, I have had the privilege to serve twenty-three ATA Chairmen. Each brought forth new ideas, new initiatives, and accomplishments that left the Association better positioned to represent the state’s trucking industry.

As ATA’s top elected official this past year, Terry Kilpatrick of Billy Barnes Enterprises of Frisco City, Ala. made his mark. His leadership will be remembered as one that grew this Association to serve the industry and the public. What follows are a few of his achievements.

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  Terry Kilpatrick

  The ATA Foundation was established providing an additional source of tax-free revenue to further expand the efforts of the Association. Though in its infant stages, plans are to promote the Teens and Trucks Program to educate high school students about driving safely around large trucks, and to provide scholarships to young adults pursuing a truck-related vocation. Additional opportunities to improve the image of trucking are being pursued, as well. Potentially, the Foundation could dramatically impact the Association’s ability to promote and protect the trucking industry.

• Under his leadership, ATA instituted a revamped, fair and equitable membership dues schedule. For most members, the dues rate is now based on number of trucks as opposed to estimated revenue. The result was a significant increase in revenue FY2017-18 affording increased member services.
• Member participation in ATA’s major events was at an all-time high. For example, attendance at our Annual Convention approached 500 and more than 300 attended the recent Alabama Truck Driving Championships Awards Banquet. Furthermore, event sponsorships at both events were at record highs, showing a growing willingness of members to buy-in to ATA’s mission.
• This being an election year, the success of the 2017 Golf Classic was key to our political action efforts to elect pro-truck candidates. That event revenue along with member assessments produced more than $250,000 for the Association’s political action committee, TRUK PAC. This additional income helped elect 85 percent of our endorsed candidates in the recent June 5th primary elections.

As Mr. Kilpatrick’s responsibilities as Chairman expire on June 30, we are for­tunate to still have his leadership in place this next year as chairman of two of ATA’s most important committees. These include the Nominating Committee, which will define ATA’s future leadership, and as head of its all-important Policy and Finance Committee.

In closing, on behalf of this Association and Alabama’s trucking industry, thank you Mr. Kilpatrick for your outstanding service and dedication as ATA Chairman of the Board FY2017-18. Because of your guidance and counsel, this Association grew in stature and vision.

It has been an honor to work with you.