MISSISSAUGA, Ont. (Mar. 16, 2005) — He wasn’t a vocal industry lobbyist or outspoken fleet owner, but it seems anyone in trucking from these parts knew who Donald Newsom was.

Don Newsom — known as “The Wrench” to friends — was vice-president of maintenance, safety and compliance at Quik X Transportation since 2001 and also a member of the Ontario Trucking Association Maintenance Council. He passed away late last month due to heart complications. He was 65.

“Don was extremely knowledgeable in the industry. He always kept things real simple — facts were facts — and he always planned ahead with both feet on the ground,” says Quik X President and CEO Gary Babcock, whose relationship with Don stretches back to their days together at TNT Transport. “He was tremendous at mentoring people, and extremely well respected — whether it was his own employees or suppliers, you never heard anyone say anything but the best about Don.

Added Alan Boughton, president of Trailcon Leasing and personal friend to Don: “There’s two words we use at Trailcon to describe our business — honesty and integrity. Those words describe Don Newsom perfectly,” Boughton told TodaysTrucking.com. “He was the type of guy where the job at hand and the company he worked for were always his focus. You never got anything for nothing from Don, but I’ll tell you, he was as fair and knowledgeable of a guy you’re ever going to meet.

Boughton confirmed that he’s recently made plans with the OTA’s Education Foundation to donate a $1,000 scholarship in Don Newsom’s memory for a student who is completing a heavy-duty mechanic course at a recognized college.

It’s been over three weeks since Don last strolled the halls of Quik X, but it will still be some time before the staff here can get over him no longer being around, Babcock says. “We took it extremely hard. This place was in shock for a while,” he said.

Not only will Don be remembered at Quik X for his professional contributions to fleet and driver safety, but also for making everyone at the Mississauga, Ont.-based fleet laugh at the drop of a hat. “I’ve never known anyone with the one-liners that (he had),” Babcock tells Today’s Trucking. “You never knew where they were going to come from next. He just had them ready.”

Although he wasn’t someone who craved the limelight, his funeral attracted dozens of people from all aspects of the Canadian trucking industry. “It was unbelievable how many people showed up to the funeral,” one Quik X staffer says. “I think his family was really able to see how much of an impact he had on the industry and how much he was respected.”

Boughton says Don was a natural-born leader. “He wasn’t the guy pounding on the table. He just did it,” he says.

Don is survived by his wife Dorothy, his children Danny, Debbie, and Dave; and grandchildren Jason, Michelle, Lindsey, Ryan, Dayna, and Dalton.