photos and video(below) by Kevin McKinnon

J.D. and Billy Hines Trucking, Inc. of Prescott held its 19th Annual Safety and Awards Banquet for 2010 at the Hope Fair Park Coliseum Saturday evening. Hines is celebrating its 75th Anniversary, having began in 1936. Currently the operations include a Wood Chip Hauling division, a Regional Flatbed division, and a Log Haul operation. 

The evening began with a welcome to employees and guests by Hines Trucking Controller Wendell Hoover who introduced the evening's emcee, Jon Chadwell. 

The Million Mile Club was recognized on stage next:

Walter McGill - 3.9 million miles  

Vernell Gulley - 2.3 million miles  

Donnie Davis - 2.1 million miles  

David Goodwin - 2.1 million miles  

Dofort Harris - 2 million miles  

Cornelius Beard - 1.7 million miles  

Charles Anderson - 1.7 million miles  

Harold Vaughn - 1.7 million miles  

Jerimiah Walters - 1.6 million miles  

Mike Rushing - 1.3 million miles  

Percy McGill - 1.1 million miles  

Miguel Castillo - 1.1. million miles                                                                       

New members to the Million Mile Club:  

Todd Coffman - 1 million miles  

Orval Farrar - 1.9 million miles 

After the invocation by Hines President Billy Hines, a catered dinner of fried fish, chicken strips and the fixings was served. Two large 75th Anniversary cakes were the dessert.

A large balloon arrangement in the shape of "75" highlighted the back wall of the coliseum. The tables were decorated with red confetti and candy.

After the dinner three volunteers, Tommy Holt, Leslie Vantreeck and Terry Smith, were asked to come to the stage to compete in a "Junk in the Trunk" contest. The men had tissue boxes filled with ping pong balls tied to their back sides which they had to shake empty as fast as possible to the sounds of "Shake Your Booty", by K.C. and the Sunshine Band. Vantreeck shook his junk out of his trunk the fastest to win.

Next up a special acknowledgment of "Highway Hero" was made to Wayne Smith who saved the life of another driver in February of this year.

This was followed by dozens of awards to Hines Trucking drivers and employees for outstanding job performance and years of service.

Here are some of those awards:

The Short Haul Driver of the Year award was given to Walter McGill of Prescott.  McGill has worked for Hines Trucking since June 11, 1979, and has 3,900,000 accident-free miles. 

Flatbed Driver of the Year was awarded to Brent Bearden of Downsville, Louisiana.

Log Haul Driver of the year had co-winners of Fredrick Henry of Rosston and Lee Lawrence of Texarkana.

Robert Baker of Camden was awarded Hines Trucking’s Contractor of the Year.  

Trainer of the Year was awarded to Sean Hallisey of Texarkana.

Best MPG winners were  Perry Van in the Short Haul division, Brent Bearden for Long Haul and Frank Smith for Log Haul.

Ernesto Delarosa was awarded Shop Employee of the Year.

There were also several door prizes presented at different times during the evening. 

Those attending were given a banquet program with this history of the company:

Hines Trucking was founded by J.D. Hines in 1936, with one truck hauling in the local area of Prescott, Arkansas. From 1936 until 1969 J.D. hauled logs, lumber and gravel.

In 1969, Billy R. Hines became a partner with J.D. Hines. In 1976 the partnership was incorporated and J.D. and Billy Hines Trucking, Inc. was awarded its first chip hauling contract in 1979.

In 1983, J.D. and Billy Hines Trucking was granted a General Commodities Authority for 48 states.

Billy R. Hines acquired J.D. and Billy Hines Trucking in 1984 and became President and CEO.

The Long Haul Division added refrigerated trailers in 1986 and dry vans in 1989.

In November 1990, Billy Hines sold the Long Haul Division.

In August 2005, Hines Trucking started a flatbed division with six trucks. The flatbed operation has since grown to include 45 trucks.

In January 2006, Hines Trucking began a long haul division consisting of 5 trucks, that has now expanded to 11 trucks.

In October 2007 Hines Trucking, Inc. purchased a company in Winnfield, Louisiana that added 10 trucks to the fleet.

J.D. and Billy Hines Trucking was voted Best Trucking Company in Arkansas in 2008 and 2009 by Arkansas Business Magazine. 

J.D. and Billy Hines Trucking continues to acknowledge the dedicated employees that make this company a success. Thanks for your hard work.

We thank you, Hines Trucking, for 75 years of being a great partner in Prescott and the region.

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