By Jolene Farley
Erwin DeBoer opened his business, Erwin's Towing and Recovery, 23 years ago in the same shop he currently occupies on Highway 270 in Hills.
Erwin's started as an auto repair shop but soon branched into towing, snow removal, storage and even a car wash. This transition began when electronics became more widespread in automobile engines.
"A town this size is not big enough to support the cost of the technology needed to work on these engines," said DeBoer.
So Erwin's began to concentrate more on the towing end of the business.
Erwin's Towing has already racked up 30,000 miles on a tow truck purchased in June. DeBoer expects his business to do 80,000 miles of towing this year.
Their furthest tow job was from El Paso, Texas. Erwin's receives periodic calls from insurance companies looking for someone to transport disabled vehicles.
This winter has been a "respectable winter," according to DeBoer. He and his son, Mark, have been working 50 to 100 hours per week, generally in inclement weather, to keep up. DeBoer's wife, Faith, answers phones and keeps the books for the business.
"Business has been good, but it is making an old man out of me," said DeBoer. "Hours, hours, hours."
DeBoer said there have been several rollovers this year. "Fortunately there was not one injury that I am aware of," he said. "I am sitting on four rollovers (cars) from last week."
DeBoer said Hills is a good community to do business in. "Ninety-nine percent of the people are real easy to get along with."
DeBoer's secret for success is: "You never stand still; if you are not keeping up you are sliding backwards. You have to keep up with the times."
Edwin and Faith have three children, Mark, Sharon and Pam.