North named Oilman of the Year

Six years later, he bought his first tractor truck and became a subcontractor to Temor Oil Services in 1974 until he bought the company in 1990.

It was operating 32 trucks at the time and when he sold it in 2002, it operated 149 trucks.

Looking back, North says the 70s were good, the 80s were up and down and the 90s started off slow, but around 97 it went pretty well for a few years—with driver shortages being an industry norm.

“We always had good truckers; that’s what made it work for us,” he said.

Over the years, North has amassed an impressive collection of old tractors and vehicles, including a restored Ford snowmobile once used by the late Dr. G.L. Cooke in Lloydminster.

He said Cooke’s sled was purchased by a fella in Fort. St. John who had it for 18 years, and when he died, his wife sold it to a collector in Surrey, B.C. where North brought it back to Lloyd.

“It runs. It’s got the cab on it and everything,” he said.

“Back in the heydays, they did a lot of house