Mack Trucks Historical Museum Curator Honored with Historian of the Industry Award
08-03-2015
GREENSBORO, NC (Aug. 3, 2015) - Mack Trucks Historical Museum Curator Don Schumaker recently received the Historian of the Industry Award from the American Truck Historical Society (ATHS). The award recognizes individuals who have been diligent in their pursuit of the history of the trucking industry and was presented to Schumaker during ATHS’ National Convention in York, Pennsylvania.
As curator of the Mack Trucks Historical Museum, Schumaker is responsible for dozens of trucks and exhibits that proudly display the history of Mack Trucks to thousands of visitors each year.
"Don has made significant contributions to protecting and promoting the history of Mack Trucks, and we’re proud to see his efforts recognized with the Historian of the Industry Award," said Stephen Roy, president of Mack Trucks North America. "Through his decades of service, first as an employee and then as curator of the museum, Don has been a true ambassador for Mack."
Schumaker joined Mack as a test lab mechanic in December 1957. He earned his engineering degree from Lafayette College while taking night classes and continuing to work at Mack. After advancing through a number of positions within the test lab, he was named manager of vehicle performance, a position he held until his retirement in 1995 after 38 years of service.
After enjoying retirement for six short months, Schumaker was back with the Bulldog, joining the Mack Trucks Historical Museum staff in June 1996. He was named co-curator of the museum in 1997 and curator in 2008.
Schumaker has announced his retirement from the Mack Trucks Historical Museum at the end of 2015. Michael Kitsock has been named Schumaker's successor and has already started work at the museum. Kitsock, a Pennsylvania native, is a former Latin and English instructor with a passion for antique and historic trucks. He is affiliated with several antique and historical truck organizations, including the ATHS, Antique Truck Club of America and the Schuylkill Historical Fire Society Museum.
Located at the Mack Customer Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania, the Mack Trucks Historical Museum is a separate, not-for-profit corporation that explores the history of Mack and demonstrates the industry-leading manufacturing techniques that have kept Mack at the forefront of heavy-duty trucking.
In addition to the museum, the Mack Customer Center is home to the Mack Heritage Center, a Mack showroom and a performance track where customers can test drive Mack vehicles. For more information about the museum, including available tour hours, please visit www.macktruckshistoricalmuseum.org.
Mack Trucks Historical Museum Curator Don Schumaker (left) recently received the Historian of the Industry Award from the American Truck Historical Society for his diligent pursuit of the history of the trucking industry. Schumaker will retire at the end of 2015, with Michael Kitsock (right) assuming the role of museum curator.