ATSS Foundation recognizes Shirley family for longtime support

The ATSS Foundation recently recognized the Shirley family of Georgia with the nonprofit’s Ambassador Award.

The Foundation Ambassador Award recognizes an individual or entity for extraordinary efforts in supporting The Foundation’s core purpose of promoting roadway safety through charitable giving and public awareness programs.

The Shirley family, which owns and operates Safety Signal Co. in Georgia, has for 13 years run the Jim Shirley Memorial Golf Tournament and donated half of the proceeds to benefit The ATSS Foundation. The other half has gone to the Georgia Department of Transportation GDOT for scholarships.

Safety Signal Co. was founded in Forest Park, Ga., in 1969 by Jim Shirley and Dave Bussey, who were brothers-in-law. The family has continued operating the business since then, with Jim’s widow—Dee Shirley—as the current owner. The company is now located in Union City, Ga.

Georgia ATSSA Chapter President Rick Brockman nominated the family for the Foundation Ambassador Award in recognition of their years-long efforts in helping both The Foundation and GDOT, both of which offer college scholarships.

“The Shirley family has started, managed, promoted and worked on the annual Jim Shirley Memorial Golf Tournament with this being the 13th  year,” Brockman wrote in nominating the family. “They literally shut down their company for the day to make this event successful.”

The ATSS Foundation Board approved the award in November and presented it to Ryan Shirley at The Foundation’s Annual Golf Classic Tournament held as part of ATSSA’s 53rd Annual Convention & Traffic Expo in Phoenix in February.

“We are extremely grateful to all of the members of the Shirley family for their many years of support,” said Foundation Director Lori Diaz. “Their commitment to The Foundation through this event that honors Jim Shirley has made a difference in the lives of young adults pursuing their dreams after a devastating loss and in helping raise awareness of the importance of roadway safety.”

The ATSS Foundation Board reviews nominations for the Ambassador Award three times a year—in March, July and November. Details on the criteria and a nomination form are available online.

To date, four awards have been presented. The ATSS Foundation is the charitable arm of ATSSA.