October 2004 SWANA International Road-E-O Results

by Victoria L. Hodge, M. S.
Assistant Safety Coordinator, City of Denton

Let it be known that a little rain, or a lot of rain in this case, never gets in the way of a sanitation worker. Despite the weather this morning, the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) held its 2004 International Road-E-O at the Municipal Landfill in Denton, Texas. And, everyone showed up ready to go. Competitors and spectators donned an interesting array of items in an effort to keep dry. Raincoats fashioned out of garbage bags were a popular dress item. Although everyone ended up wet, enthusiasm did not waver. Many competitors commented that they face conditions such as these in the course of performing their jobs.

The purpose of the Road-E-O is to promote professionalism and safety on the part of drivers, operators, and mechanics in the field of solid waste management and to facilitate a spirit of competition and goodwill. "The Road-E-O is a great way for SWANA to acknowledge the skill and expertise of talented and dedicated solid waste workers," said Vance Kemler, Vice President of TxSWANA. It also gives participants a rare opportunity to network with their peers from other states. Participants in this Road-E-O are the cream of the crop in their competitive area. They had to either win or finish second in their state chapter Road-E-O in order to be eligible to compete in the international competition.

Over ninety participants, representing fourteen states, competed for first, second, or third place in eleven event categories. Winners for these eleven categories are listed below.

Truck Road-E-O Rear Loader

1st place - Rufino Uribe, City of Phoenix, AZ 2nd place - Carl Guillory, City of Beaumont, TX 3rd place - Chuck Sebelist, Waste Management, PA

Truck Road-E-O Roll-Off

1st place - Rick Clark, City of Clearwater, FL 2nd place - Andres Henjes, City of Largo, FL 3rd place - Jefferey Miller, GDS-Plymouth, NC

Truck Road-E-O Front Loader

1st place - James Mark, City of Largo, FL 2nd place - George Wyler, City of Albuquerque, NM 3rd place - Mark Speas, Republic Waste Services, NC

Truck Road-E-O Transfer Tractor/Trailer

1st place - Charles Bush, City of Houston, TX 2nd place - Pablo Navarro, City of McAllen, TX 3rd place - Paul Feltman, McPherson Area Solid Waste Utility, KS

Truck Road-E-O Automated Side Loader

1st place - Danny Lugo, City of Phoenix, AZ 2nd place - Warren Saunders, City of Thornton, CO 3rd place - Stanley Flores, City of Denton, TX

Landfill Road-E-O Compactor

1st place - Benny Garcia, City of Albuquerque, NM 2nd place - Fred Gooden, Deklab County, GA 3rd place - Marc Fleming, City of Wichita Falls, TX

Landfill Road-E-O Dozer

1st place - Matthew Norris, Hernando County S, FL 2nd place - Yarborou Tsingine, Salt River Landfill, AR 3rd place - Dan Rhembrandt, SWANN, NE

Landfill Road-E-O Scraper

1st place - Manual Numez, City of Lubbock, TX 2nd place - Bill Pickinpaugh, City of Grand Island, NE 3rd place - John Bulling, City of Lincoln, NE

Landfill Road-E-O Rubber Tire Loader

1st place - John Todd, City of Phoenix, AZ 2nd place - Jason Killingsworth, City of Lincoln, NE 3rd place - Charles Farmer, Baltimore County G, MD

Mechanic Road-E-O Truck

1st place - Paul Jonas, City of Denton, TX 2nd place - Louis LaFon, City of Plano, TX 3rd place - Eric Walkup, City of Largo, FL

Mechanic Road-E-O Landfill

1st place - Randy Tunnell, City of Denton, TX 2nd place - Terry Annis, Catawba County, NC 3rd place - Michael Robicheaux, City of Dallas, TX

No Road-E-O would be successful without volunteers and sponsors. Thanks goes to the City of Denton Solid Waste Department whose months of planning and hard work ensured a successful event and to our volunteer judges from all over the United States.

And, a special thank you goes to all our major Road-E-O sponsors. Our platinum sponsors included City of Denton, Peterbilt, and McNeilus. Our gold sponsors included City of Dallas, New Waste Concepts, McDonnald Transit, and Wittke. Silver sponsors included American Golf Carts and Holt cat.

Bronze sponsors included Bomag, Caron, Floyd Smith Concrete, Paradigm Software, TKO Equipment, and Trinity Recycling. Friends sponsors included Abitibi Consolidated, Alan Plummer Associates, Inc., Aljon, Biggs & Matthews Environmental, Biodiesel Industries, Inc., Bobcat of Denton, Coleman & Associates, Continental Equipment Company, Ettl, Friend Equipment, Inc., HDR Engineering, Inc., Inland Truck Parts, Labor Ready, Otto Environmental, Pro Tire, Ehrig Pacific Company, Roadrunner Traffic Supply, Roll-off America, Southwestern Equipment, Thelin Recycling, Toter, Inc., Victory Enterprises, and Weaver Boos Consultants.

Congratulations to all our winners.