FEATURE FRIDAY: Valley Towing—Unique Situations, Family, and Boating

NAMES: Rinny Dyar, President

Gina Dyar Murdough, Secretary/Treasurer

Valley Towing Company, Inc.

WEBSITE: www.valleytowingarizona.com

What started in the garage of a Valley couple’s home back in 1963 has grown to be a Phoenix staple, still in business all these years later. While founders Robert and Karen Dyer are no longer here, the company is still family-owned. It’s run by their son and daughter, Rinny and Gina, and Rinny’s son Justin. Spouses are also involved.

Here, Rinny and Gina talk about the 24-hour Valley Towing, unique situations, and relaxing.

Valley Towing has been around for a long time! Tell us how the company was started …

Valley Towing was founded on May 1, 1963, by our parents, Bob and Karen Dyar. They started out with only one tow truck, with Bob driving and Karen answering the phones and keeping the books in their home in Mesa, Arizona. Valley Towing quickly grew to what is now one of the oldest family-owned and -operated towing companies in Arizona. We just celebrated our 62^nd year!

How big is the company now, and who in the family is involved?

Valley Towing has 13 trucks on the road every day, and we tow anything from a smart car to a semi-truck! There is nothing we can’t tow!

How is it working as brother and sister day in and day out?

Gina’s husband Steve is the safety/risk manager and customer relations manager. Rinny’s son Justin is the driver manager and runs the recovery side of the business, along with overseeing the day-to-day activity.  Rinny’s wife Julie also works there and is the office manager.

Rinny and Gina have worked together all these years. The last few years Rinny has been driving a truck while Gina is in the office. Working with family daily can be challenging for others, but we always seem to do just fine!

How has the company needed to change over time?

Change is never easy.  Five years ago, we made the decision to get in the heavy towing. This was the beginning of 2020 … just before Covid hit. We have since added a second heavy truck and we are doing great in that area.

Do you have a ‘most unique’ towing situation story?

Valley Towing has done many recovery tows over the past six decades, from pulling vehicles out of the canals or even swimming pools to searching for vehicles down hundreds of feet of a cliff to pull it up to the street.  We have been tested and have succeeded!

You were in Lake Havasu when the recent speedboat crashed that made national news. Do you boat in Havasu often? Tell us about this hobby/passion …

We do vacation at Lake Havasu. We have been going to Havasu Landing, Calif. with our family since the late 1960s. We try to get there as much as possible year-round, whether boating or playing in the desert.

Courtesy Valley Towing

Favorite locations around Scottsdale?

Growing up in the Arcadia area, we were in Scottsdale a lot. Old Town is one of our favorites. Scottsdale Road in general just has a vibe to it!

Favorite way to relax?

Working the hours we do is not always easy to relax. But both Rinny and Gina have grandchildren that they just adore and spend every available moment with them! They are the future!