AWDA Art Fisher Memorial Scholarship Award

2010 Art Fisher Memorial Scholarship Award on behalf of her father, John N. Castle

John N. Castle Presented with AWDA’s 2010 Art Fisher Memorial Scholarship Award


The Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) presented its 2010 Art Fisher Memorial Scholarship Award to the late John N. Castle in recognition of his work creating and building the automotive aftermarket department of Northwood University.  The award was presented by Barbara Cunningham, University of the Aftermarket Foundation, on October 31st at AWDA’s 2010 Annual Conference in Las Vegas.

The Art Fisher Memorial Scholarship Award is presented annually to an aftermarket company or individual that demonstrates outstanding commitment to education and training, either within their own organization or throughout the industry. Given in memory of former AWDA chairman Art Fisher, the award grants substantial scholarships in the name of the award winner to two students enrolled in the automotive aftermarket management program at Northwood University.

From shortly after its founding in 1972 to his retirement in 1992, John Castle led the aftermarket management program at Northwood.  He helped author the first textbooks and was instrumental in guiding the department during its early, formative years.  He laid the groundwork for the positive reputation his institution enjoys today within the aftermarket industry.

Aside from being a highly effective administrator, John Castle was first and foremost a teacher.  He not only played a role in establishing the aftermarket curricula at Northwood, he also taught the classes.

In his role as a professor, John touched countless lives and through his students, helped shape the present-day aftermarket. 

"John Castle made the Automotive Aftermarket Program at Northwood University," said John Washbish, president and CEO of Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, who had Castle as a professor.

Jeff Stauffer, senior vice president marketing for Affinia Global Brake & Chassis, knew Castle for more than 35 years.  "John took the aftermarket program to the next level," Stauffer said. "He was a great man and loved by all. He had a big impact on the industry.”

John Castle passed away in July of 2010 at the age of 85, completing a full and rewarding life.  Jim John, former head of Northwood’s Aftermarket Program and John Castle’s daughter, Pamela Somers, accepted the award on his behalf.

PREVIOUS AWARD RECIPIENTS

• 2010 John N. Castle
• 2009 Federal-Mogul Corp. Technical Education Center
• 2008 David Caracci
• 2007 Fred Bunting
• 2006 KYB America
• 2005 Larry Sills
• 2004 Richard Beirne and Ron Levene
• 2003 MEMA
• 2002 Art Fisher
• 2001 Ted Wise, AAP
• 2000 Chuck Udell, AAP
• 1999 Marc Gelfand, AAP
• 1998 Raymond Walker, AAP
• 1997 Louis A. Zuanich, AAP
• 1996 Tim Lee, AAP
• 1995 Annie Kornafel, AAP
• 1994 Bill Kuykendall, MAAP
• Gary Kremer, AAP
• 1993 Clay Buzzard, AAP
• 1992 Aaron Berkowitz
• 1991 N. Arthur Epstein, AAP*
• 1990 Kenneth D. Walker, AAP
• 1989 Robert H. Raff, MAAP
• 1988 Jay L. Love
• 1987 Raymond P. Peck
• 1986 Larry Anton
• 1985 Donald E. Edelmann
• 1984 C. Hamilton Sloan
• 1983 James L. Fine
• 1982 Frederic S. Kotcher
• 1981 Peter R. Kornafel, MAAP
• 1980 Robert L. Sirotek, AAP
• 1979 Emil G. Stanley*
• 1978 Richard B. Black
• 1977 O. Temple Sloan
• 1976 Charles N. Gaskill, AAP*
• 1975 Mort Schwartz, AAP
• 1974 Dunbar Abston Jr.
• 1973 Martin G. Brown
• 1972 Sam Nakis
• 1971 Herbert Lipton
• 1970 R. Jack Alexander Jr.
• 1969 S.G. Puryear
• 1968 Frank Norfleet
• 1967 Harry D. Rothman*
• 1966 Ran P. Hall

The AWDA Memorial Scholarship Award was preceded by the Ernest A. Tapp Memorial Award. The recipients of this award are:

• 1965 John M. Yantis
• 1964 Bernard Bock
• 1963 Paul Livoni
• 1962 A.P. Walter
• 1961 Jack F. Whitaker
• 1960 Thomas S. Perry, AAP