ABOUT US
A brief history of our organization

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The Ohio Professional Drivers Association (which was originally called the Ohio Professional Roadeo Drivers

Association) was formed in 1973 by a group of dedicated professional drivers and their wives. These gentlemen of the

road had participated in driving Championships dating back, to the 1950’s. During this period these same

Championships were known as Truck Roadeo’s and were held and sponsored by the Ohio Trucking Association.

Due to the economic’s of the early 70’s the Ohio Trucking Association, decided that they could no longer continue this program.

That is when this group of drivers and their wives decided to get together and discuss what could be done to

re-instate this program. In June of 1973 they held their first meeting to try an organize a drivers association

That would continue the Driving Championships. Many names were discussed what to call their organization, with the

group finally deciding to name it “THE OHIO PROFESSIONAL ROADEO DRIVERS ASSOCIATION.” nick named OPRA.

With a lot of hard work and very little experience in putting together a “roadeo”, they managed to hold their

1st Championship at Westland Mall in Columbus, Ohio in June of 1974. Included in their program were, trophies for

1st, 2nd and 3rd, a banquet, a written test and personal interview (which has been eliminated at the state level because

of today's time restraints). Each year afterward they held the roadeo in different city's through out the State,

including sites in Lima, Toledo, Columbus, and Solon, to name some of them. In the 90,s the word Roadeo was dropped

from our name because it sounded to cowboy like, an that was not the image the we were trying to project to the motoring

public.

Thanks to these dedicated men and women who gave so much to get our program started we say

“ Thank You for a great program !! “. Below you will find the founders names listed.......

Walt Callahen -- Foster Ferguson -- Hank & Norma Fleischmann -- Paul & Irene Good -- Ron & Donna Guyton
Danial Hampton -- Harry Keller -- Paul King -- David Koon -- Emery Lewis -- Carl Liver -- William & Kay Long
Tom McVan -- Charlie Marlett -- Lee Miller -- Kenneth Phillyas -- Dave & Annelle Porter -- Floyd & Mary Rider

Ned Waiter -- Richard Wallace