10-4 Magazine - For Today's Trucker

Truck Show Pioneer
Will Be Missed

GARY SHERRARD
1938 - 2004

Gary Sherrard, recently retired owner of Independent Trade Show Management, Inc. and long time producer of the International Trucking Show, passed away on January 31, 2004 at the age of 65. In the early 1960’s, Gary was employed by the California Trucking Association (CTA) and was President of their for-profit subsidiary Trucking Activities. Under Gary’s leadership, Trucking Activities produced the International Trucking Show (ITS), operated the CTA Truck Driving School, Damaged Freight Inspection Center, TA Productions (the first movie production company dedicated to safety films for the trucking industry), Driver Testing Center and Go West Magazine. In 1983, Gary left the CTA to open his own business, Independent Trade Show Management, Inc. where he contracted to produce and manage the ITS on behalf of CTA until his retirement in 2001. Gary enjoyed every aspect of producing a trade show, but his favorite part seemed to be when he hit the road to promote the show. He loved visiting the truck stops, handing out free show tickets and talking it up with the drivers. Gary would have made an excellent over the road truck driver. Aside from producing truck shows, Gary was involved in many areas of the trucking industry during his lengthy career including the Northern California Chapter of the National Association of Exhibition Managers, Western Highway Institute, Hayes Antique Truck Museum, American Truck Historical Society, as well as many local civic groups. The trucking industry will miss his leadership and vision, and his family, namely son Roger, will miss his mentor and best friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Sherrard family.