The Big Ed award was named after Ed Batson from Power’s Towing. When Ed passed away he left to the PTROI a gun collection which was worth several thousand dollars. This was a huge boost to the relatively new PTROI. The award named in his honor is awarded to someone that is an asset to the PTROI, to the towing industry, and to their community. Dick Bartel of Dick’s Towing was the first winner of the Big Ed Award, and thereafter was named the steward of the award. In September, 2021, due to the passing of Dick Bartel, Wes Kochel, of Wes Kochel, Inc., was appointed as the new steward of the Big Ed Award. We thank Dick and congratulate Wes and thank the following PTROI members that made such efforts on behalf of the PTROI. (We have done our best to compile the names and year of award winners. If you have any information that can assist us please call the PTROI office at 800-286-0519.)
PTROI Big Ed Winners
| Year | Name | Company |
| 1988 | Dick Bartel | Dick’s Towing Service, Inc. |
| Joe Pedigo | Joe’s Towing | |
| Larry Trail | Trail Towing | |
| Bill Howard | Naperville Towing Service | |
| Tom Caesar | ||
| Eve Bramlette | Wayne-Built | |
| 1997 | Katy Cooper | Cooper’s Towing |
| 1998 | Bob Bowers | A-1 Towing |
| 1999 | Helen Skrocki | Ambassador Car Carriers |
| 2000 | Larry Trail | Trail Towing |
| 2002 | Ed Forsythe | Jack’s Towing, Inc. |
| 2003 | Doug Wilson | TMW Towing, Inc. |
| 2004 | ||
| 2005 | Kevin Tondini | Tondini’s Wrecker Service |
| 2006 | JR Bramlette | Airline Towing |
| 2007 | Jerry Aurenz | A Auto Truck |
| 2008 | Dan Bertagnolli
Joe Braverman |
SMT Towing
E&R Towing |
| 2009 | Marci Gratzianna | O’Hare Towing Service, Inc. |
| 2010 | Susan Jepsen | Reynolds Towing, Inc. |
| 2011 | Toni Byrnes | E & B Towing |
| 2012 | Larry McKay | Suburban Towing and Recovery, Inc. |
| 2013 | Jeff Skvarla | Auto-Medics, Inc. |
| 2014 | Jim Bresnahan | Chariot Towing |
| 2015 | Bill Wishard | A to Z Towing |
| 2016 | John Meyers | Grosse Point Towing |
| 2017 | ||
| 2018 | Mike Depoister | TriPower Towing and Recovery, Inc. |
| 2019 | Wes Kochel | Wes Kochel, Inc. |
| 2020 | Larry Kochel | Wes Kochel, Inc. |
| 2021 | Bruce Pedigo | Joe’s Towing and Recovery, Inc. |
| 2022 | Dana Bernagye | Petes’ A Towing |
| 2023 | Jack Herman | Wildwood Service |
| 2024 | Dave Klein | Kustom Towing, Inc. |