Despite a packed agenda, the Council of Logistics Management (CLM) set aside a few moments during its Annual Conference in Philadelphia for a special ceremony to honor a distinguished gentleman from Tennessee. Dr. John T. (Tom) Mentzer of the University of Tennessee received the Distinguished Service Award, becoming the 39th person to receive the award since it was inaugurated in 1965. The award was established as a tribute to John Drury Sheahan, pioneer logistics consultant and a partner in the consulting firm that bore his name.

Mentzer was honored for a career that has included 25 years of training logistics professionals at the University of Tennessee and Virginia Tech University, publishing research on a variety of issues critical to the logistics discipline, and for his expertise in forecast management. He was also lauded for his extensive contributions to the profession and acknowledged leadership in every organization in which he participates.