The Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) recognized Rusty Bishop with its 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award in Honor of Martin Fromm.
Bishop, CEO of Federated Auto Parts, received the award during the opening general session of AWDA’s 72st Annual Business and Education Conference in Las Vegas.
AWDA, a community of the Auto Care Association, presents the award to individuals who have distinguished themselves through their unselfish commitment to, and high level of performance within, the auto care industry throughout their career.
“Rusty has given a lot of time and effort to a lot of different parts of the industry,” Larry Pavey, president and CEO of the Automotive Parts Services Group, said in a video tribute. “He’s worked with the associations. He’s worked with charity foundations. He’s done a lot of different things. So he’s really a person who has contributed a great deal to the industry outside of just his job and his company.”
John R. Washbish, CEO of the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, praised Bishop for his work as the former chairman of the University of the Aftermarket Foundation. Bishop served two stints as foundation chairman, where he led efforts to dramatically increase participation, donations, scholarships and grants awarded.
“The foundation would not be where it is today without the excellent leadership that Rusty provided,” Washbish said. “And he wasn’t doing that for his group or for him personally. He was doing that for the betterment of the aftermarket. And I would say in the 40 years that I’ve known Rusty, he’s always operated in the best interests of the entire aftermarket.”
Bishop has held board positions with many aftermarket organizations, including the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (now the Auto Care Association), the Automotive Service Industry Association and AWDA. After serving as the chairman of the AWDA Membership and Marketing Committee and on the AWDA Board of Governors, Bishop entered the AWDA chairs and served as AWDA chairman in 2009, at which time he worked to revitalize the AWDA Annual Business and Education Conference.
Bishop has received numerous awards and honors during his career, including the AWDA Pursuit of Excellence Award, the Northwood University Automotive Aftermarket Management Educational Award and the AAIA Industry Advocate Award. In 2013, AWDA presented Bishop with its top honor, the Aftermarket Leader of the Year Award.
Earlier this year, Federated honored him with its prestigious Art Fisher Memorial Award.
During the Nov. 3 AWDA opening general session, Bishop said receiving an award “doesn’t come without a lifetime of help.” He thanked his colleagues, friends, family and others for their roles in his accomplishments.
“The aftermarket is such a great place to work, and it’s been so great for me,” Bishop said. “It’s afforded me opportunities I never thought possible.”
