William “Bill” C. Diggory, retired vice president and general manager of SKF Vehicle Service Market, North America, was presented with the 2010 Heavy Duty Aftermarket Industry Hall of Fame Award in recognition of his contributions to the industry.
Presented by R.L. Polk & Co. at the Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week 2010 industry awards luncheon, the award acknowledges an individual’s length of service, impact on and commitment to the industry, as well as thought leadership.
Before retiring in 2008, Diggory provided 29 years of service to the heavy-duty aftermarket. After joining SKF in 1980, Diggory worked his way into an executive management role and was named vice president of marketing for Chicago Rawhide Aftermarket Division in 1985. Over the years, Diggory continued to progress through various levels of management. His latest responsibilities for SKF included leading business development projects, as well as merger and acquisition efforts.
“In addition to his duties with SKF, Bill has showed his commitment to the industry by sharing his time and talent with many industry associations and causes,” says Gary Meteer, director of sales for Polk’s Commercial Vehicle and Automotive Aftermarket Business Units – the corporate sponsor of this award. “We are pleased to honor Bill with this award, recognizing his leadership, spirit and vision for both SKF and this industry.”
Diggory served as chairman of the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association from 2005 to 2006 and took a leadership role in the planning and promoting of HDAW. Diggory also served on the board of governors of the Heavy Duty Business Forum, was director of the Automotive Sales Council and was an active member of many other industry associations and marketing groups.
“In his many years with SKF, Bill always focused on progress and seeing projects through from start to finish,” says George Dettloff, president and chief executive officer of SKF USA Inc. “Bill is very deserving of this honor, and on behalf of SKF, I would like to congratulate him for his hard work and endless contributions to our industry as a whole.”
The Heavy Duty Aftermarket Industry Hall of Fame was created to reinforce the importance of the industry and its impact on the U.S. economy, employment and American manufacturing. It is the intention of the Heavy Duty Aftermarket Industry Hall of Fame to recognize an individual who has made significant, selfless contributions to the industry.
