Ohio State alum honored as inaugural Columbus Logistics Hall of Famer

Everyone is affected by logistics and supply chain management — it’s how the products we use actually reach us. But few of us really consider the people behind the coordination, transportation, warehousing and order fulfillment of these items that drive our economy.

That’s about to change. A group of Columbus supply chain professionals are now recognizing those individuals through the establishment of a local logistics hall of fame.

Organized by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals’ (CSCMP) Columbus Roundtable, the Columbus Region Logistics Council, an initiative of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, and the Columbus Logistics Breakfast Club, the Columbus Logistics Hall of Fame recognizes the significant contributions of those who have created, innovated and mastered the discipline of logistics in Columbus. The recognition was announced at the 2025 Supply Chain Evolution Conference in October.

“Columbus is one of America’s primary retail and logistics hubs,” said Steve DeNunzio,  senior lecturer in the Department of Marketing and Logistics. “Because logistics is driving the growth of our country, we are excited to announce the launch of the Columbus Logistics Hall of Fame.”

Each year, at least one nominee with a minimum of 20 years of experience elevating the profile of the supply chain and logistics industry will be inducted. Nominees must have illustrated extraordinary leadership and served as a role model to logistics and supply chain students, young professionals and budding entrepreneurs. Each awardee receives an award and their name engraved on a perpetual trophy prominently displayed on Fisher’s campus on the fifth floor of Fisher Hall.

“For years we’ve heard about ‘collaborative Columbus,’ and that collaboration is no more evident than between the organizations that support supply chain professionals in central Ohio,” said DeNunzio, who also serves as president of the CSCMP Columbus Roundtable. “While it takes all of us to be collaborative, there need to be a few special folks that facilitate that collaboration — they aren’t just a part of our local logistics community, they are the local logistics community.”

The inaugural inductee — Dick Hitchcock (BS ’57) — was recognized for his collaborative efforts, mentorship of students and logistics employees, customer service and innovative ideas in his nearly 60-year logistics career.

Hitchcock, a human resources and psychology graduate, is known for his easy-going manner and ability to engage with anyone, his promotion of all things logistics and transportation and his encyclopedic knowledge of who’s who in logistics. His generosity of mentoring individuals, making introductions and sharing information helped many students get their first jobs in the industry.

“Dick Hitchcock isn’t just a part of the local logistics community, he is the local logistics community — he is the glue that holds the community together,” said  Jeremy Banta, associate professor and program coordinator of supply chain management at Columbus State Community College.

Hitchcock was a founding member of the Columbus Logistics Breakfast Club, a professional group focused on providing networking and educational opportunities for logistics professionals, as well as resources and information on industry trends, challenges and opportunities. What started out as a “shipper’s group” has come to include students, warehouse employees and other supply chain professionals. The club meets monthly and hosts speakers on logistics topics including artificial intelligence and the effects of tariffs.

“When you get shippers, warehouse professionals and salespeople together, you can solve any problem,” Hitchcock said.

An experienced area director of sales marketing with a history of working in the transportation, trucking and railroad industries, Hitchcock is an expert in negotiation, operations management, supply chain optimization, import and freight transportation. His long-historied career includes stints as: vice president of sales at People’s Cartage; Retail Merchants and Walker Trucking; division sales manager at Consolidated Freightways; vice president of national accounts at Duff Truck Line; director of corporate accounts at Super Transport; director of business development at USF Distribution; and director of corporate accounts at BNSF Logistics.

“I met Dick around 2003, as I was running BNSF Logistics and we acquired MRS out of Godfrey, Illinois,” said Eric Wolfe, president of Watco Supply Chain Services. “Dick was holding that company together with his tight connections to a variety of customers. He was way more than a salesperson, becoming close friends with his customers and actually caring for them. I am truly blessed to have the opportunity to know him, and I often called Columbus my second home because of Dick, our multiple Ohio offices and the vast area resources. Meeting him has been one of the highlights of my career.”

Mike Gamel, CEO of Mexpress Transportation, met Hitchcock before transportation deregulation. Gamel was with Industrial Freight System, Inc. in California, and Hitchcock was with Duff Truck Line.

“We got our heads together to figure out a way to compete with the Yellow Freight and Consolidated Freightways of the world and came up with the idea of partnering with a group of regional interstate carriers strategically located throughout the U.S. to sell our services as one,” said Gamel. “Now that the U.S. is deregulated this idea of partnerships is seen everywhere today.”

The award took Hitchcock completely by surprise.

“I’m glad to be retired, but it seems you can’t get out of logistics completely until you die,” he said. “I can’t tell you how honored I am to be recognized. As long as I’ve been in logistics and the things I’ve done for a variety of companies…I’m at a loss for words. What makes me feel good is that as my great grandchildren get older, their parents can show them that GGPa [great grandpa] was honored by the Columbus Chamber of Commerce and The Ohio State University.”