Tom Frank, president of Tim Frank Septic Tank Cleaning, in Huntsburg, Ohio, was named the winner of the 2019 Ralph Macchio Lifetime Achievement Award during a meeting of the National Association of Wastewater Technicians Feb. 22 at the Water & Wastewater Equipment, Treatment & Transport (WWETT) Show in Indianapolis. The award was presented by Ralph Macchio and Bob Kendall, founder of COLE Publishing.

The Macchio award is the highest achievement in the pumping industry, and Tom Frank follows in the footsteps of his father, Tim Frank, who won the award 2005. This marks the first time in the history of the award that it was given to two generations of business owners in the same family. Tim Frank was instrumental in the early efforts of NAWT to boost professionalism in the pumping industry.

“Being in the industry this long, that was pretty easy with a father who was really a great role model. It’s been really great when you have a family that can support you and you have great guys at home (working in the business) so you can participate in this and not worry about being away,” Tom Frank says in accepting the award. “You have a second family (at the WWETT Show) and you get to see all their faces once a year. We do what we can and go back and change it for the kids and grandkids and try to make it a better industry.”

Tom Frank was credited with helping his father and other NAWT founding members with industry training at the WWETT Show and beyond, traveling across the country to share with other pumpers how to use the tools of the trade more effectively. He has also served as president of NAWT, and he thanked board members for their support over the years.

Macchio praised the younger Frank, explaining how he started helping out in the business at an early age.

“The award is not given for just one or two feats or successes, but for committing yourself to the industry for a lifetime. (Tom Frank) started out at approximately 2 years old with his father. He would put on his boots and go out with him on the pump truck,” Macchio says. “He grew into all types of activities with regard to the industry. He serves on the (NAWT) Education Committee, he hosted the first Waste Treatment Symposium at his treatment plant, and this has been in his blood from the very beginning.”

Tom Frank was joined at the meeting by his wife, Carol, his father, his children and grandchild.

Also at the NAWT meeting, the outgoing president, Gene Bassett, was presented with an award for serving multiple terms in the top position. The group also elected a new slate of officers for 2019; they are Bruce Fox, president; Jeff Rachlin, treasurer; Tom Ferrero, secretary; and Kim Seipp, vice president. Seipp is also the education coordinator.