Born out of a mother’s love and in memory of her son, B-Unit #83 from Airport Towing made its first public appearance in Sunday’s 4th of July Parade.
The Storer family, owners of WCB Advertiser Airport Towing and Burien Towing, spent the last two years recovering from the tremendous loss in their family – on July 23, 2008 Mark and Brian Storer were tragically lost in a small plane accident (read our previous coverage here).
The family has found ways to cope with their loss. The greatest of which was most likely an idea that was produced by Lynette Storer, Brian’s mother and Mark’s wife. Lynette is now the President/CEO of Airport Towing and has been helping run the day-to-day operations of the company for nearly 22 years.
According to Lynette’s son Jared:
“Her vision was to restore the ’66 Ford-350 Tow Truck, exactly as her son Brian would have wanted it done.
Even though it has proven to be an expensive and time-consuming project, Lynette has pressed forward with the restoration. Despite a depressed economy, the love she has for her son is far beyond any monetary value.
With the help of Lynette’s staff the project is now complete!”
The antique tow truck emblazoned with Brian’s driver number – #83 – made its inaugural Burien appearance in Sunday’s 4th of July Parade and was driven by Lynette, with some very special people on board – Brian’s wife Christy and their sons Sam and Toby rode ‘shotgun’.
“B-Unit #83 is a tribute to Brian Storer. The lean, mean, Ford racing machine has been restored for one reason: it was Brian Storer’s dream to revive this this truck and make it his own,” said Lynette.
With the help of several employees, antique specialists and paint specialists at local Huddleson’s Auto Color World in White Center, this vintage truck was lovingly re-assembled and restored.
Final touches were put on this week by Roy Dunn and his crew at Dunn Auto Graphics in Des Moines. The graphics were designed and hand lettered by Roy.
What’s next for B-Unit #83 after Burien’s 4th of July Parade? It will take its place along with 13 other antique tow trucks in the in the Airport Towing Museum as the most powerful truck in the collection. Mark Storer began his collection of exotic and antique tow trucks in 1997.
If you’d like to learn the entire history of B-Unit #83, click here.
Here are some photos of this nicely-restored vehicle that’s a fitting tribute to a life lost too young:
[Would you like to have a "Blogvertorial" story, Ad and/or Event Listing like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by thousands of interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]
by Janet Grella
Welcome our newest Advertiser to The White Center Blog: Storer Enterprises, Inc., parent company to Airport Towing and Burien Towing.
On a routine WCB sales call, I was invited to join most of the Storer family for lunch at Elliot Bay Brewery in Burien. Seems like this family dines out together a lot.
One thing that struck me was the overwhelming presence at our table of Mark and Brian Storer who were killed in a floatplane accident this past summer. Both were a powerful force and inspiration in the development of this family and the family towing business.
Back in 1988, when Mark Storer was working for another towing company and his wife Lynette was doing daycare for their three young children and other neighborhood kids in their home, Mark decided to start his own towing company. With a loan from his father, Mark bought his first tow truck. They named it Airport Towing “so we’d be first in the phone book” explained Lynette, and managed it out of the house.
Lynette Storer and her late husband Mark.
A few months later they found property in Burien where they remain today. Flash forward a few years and the Storers not only had Airport Towing, but also Burien Towing, a house used as Airport’s office and a very large garage that houses 12 light and heavy duty tow trucks – and one of the industry’s largest antique tow truck collections. Another tow truck is being restored right now in memory of Brian Storer.
As a true Ma and Pa business, the addition of the house/office allowed them to bring their three kids to work. The kids included Teresa, Jared and Brian. Lynette told BTB that “This is truly a family business. If you don’t like having family around, you won’t like us!”
Jared told us that he didn’t take to the towing business the way his brother Brian did. While Brian enjoyed driving the tow trucks, Jared was more interested in working sales and marketing from the office and as a volunteer firefighter in North Highline for 3-1/2 years. He’s been a firefighter in Bellevue for the past 1-1/2 years. His schedule allows him time to spend with his wife Carmen, who works for Alaska Airlines, and with their young son Liam and to keep his fingers in the family business as Vice President.
Lynette Storer is now President of Storer Enterprises, and award-winning tow driver and nine-year employee Daryl Wilson has been made General Manager. One thing that hasn’t changed is the smiling face of Colleen Zable who’s run the front office for 17 years.
"The 29," a classic 1929 Ford Model AA Tow Truck.
Lynette’s son-in-law Kenny Savage is also part of this family business. Kenny married the Storer’s daughter, and oldest child Teresa, last summer. Jared, Lynette and Kenny shared the same thought of how glad they all were that Mark Storer was able to live long enough to see all three of his kids married.
Teresa is not part of the daily management of Airport and Burien Towing, but is helping with various financial aspects of the business as well as working with Jared on developing the property for their monthly auction of abandoned cars. Auctions are held every three weeks on Fridays at 11 am, with the preview at 8am. Currently the auctions are in South Park at 301 Sullivan St. For more information see www.airporttow.com.
The Storer family has a long history of giving back to the community as well, including Little League, Highline Sports and Theater, donations to local police and fire departments and they’ve recently developed the Storer Family Memorial Fund, which is very important to help the young widow and sons of Brian Storer.
The 1st antique tow truck is "The T," a 1925 Ford Model T that was once used in parades by McDonald's.
Storer Family Memorial Fund: This fund was established to support the family of Brian Storer after he died in a sudden plane crash July 23rd, 2008. Brian left behind a wife of three years and two sons, ages 2 and 1, Sam and Toby. Brian’s AFLAC life insurance policy did not cover him traveling in a private aircraft so this fund has been established to provide relief to his family. You can donate to the fund at any Sterling Savings Bank location or through Paypal.
Asked what they would like our Readers to know that’s not on their websites, Jared responded that his wife Carmen is the twin sister of Brian’s wife Christy. Jared and Carmen met in Normandy Park when Brian and Christy were married three years ago. Maid of Honor and Best Man respectfully, it was love that was meant to be. Another Storer long-distance relationship was in the works. Sisters were reunited in Burien after Jared and Carmen were married in Iowa, where the girls were raised.
You can find Airport Towing at 817 SW 149th Street/206.243.6252 and Burien Towing right next door at 823 SW 149th St/206.243.6252.
So, hitch up your mouse to their Ad, click on their website and check out Airport and Burien Towing!
[Are you interested in getting a "Blogvertorial" Ad like this for your Business? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]
Loading ...
