The National Auto Auction Association honored two distinguished individuals as Industry Pioneers as part of its annual convention in Dallas on Wednesday.

First, NAAA named Wolfe’s Auto Auctions founder and president R. Tony Wolfe as an Industry Pioneer for his leadership, vision and dedication to the auto auction industry throughout his career.

Also tabbed as an Industry Pioneer by NAAA was Warren Byrd, owner of Keyscore Consulting, for his significant contributions to advance the auto auction industry throughout his career.

NAAA highlighted the Industry Pioneer Award is given to those individuals who have worked in the wholesale motor vehicle industry, recognizing professionals who have:

—Innovated or enhanced methods of improving services to remarketers through NAAA member auctions

—Championed NAAA member auctions as providing services for motor vehicle remarketers unavailable from any other source

—Consistently followed the standards of the NAAA Code of Ethics.

NAAA recapped in a news release that Wolfe’s career in the automotive industry started in 1959 when he went into business with his father John, mother Elizabeth, and his wife Susan. After 15 years on the retail side of the business, Wolfe decided that he wanted to pursue a career in the auto auction industry.

Wolfe selected a site in Terre Haute, Ind., to begin his first auto auction. The first sale was held in 1975.

NAAA noted that Wolfe’s children Cynthia, Dan, and Jeff have all worked in the business.

In 1986, Wolfe purchased an auto auction site in Evansville, Ind. A location in South Bend was added in 2003.

The Wolfe family continues to operate all three auto auctions. There are 13 family members representing four generations currently in the business.

Wolfe served as president of the National Auto Auction Association in 1991 and has been a dedicated supporter of NAAA throughout his career, according to the news release.

NAAA pointed out that Byrd has been involved in the auto remarketing industry for almost 30 years, where he has managed multiple businesses and ventures.

Currently, Byrd is the owner of Keyscore Consulting, a company focused on development in the areas of automotive remarketing and senior housing. Key clients of Keyscore include Dealers Auto Auction Group based in Nashville, Tenn., having among other businesses nine auto auction locations throughout the southeastern United States, and Vita Investment Holdings, a senior housing development company.

Previously, Byrd served as executive vice president of corporate development and real estate at KAR Global.

During his tenure at KAR and its affiliated entities for more than 20 years, NAAA noted that Byrd led the acquisition of dozens of large auto auctions across the U.S. and Canada. Many of those auctions were then relocated onto expansive properties in major metropolitan areas ranging in size of up to 200 acres.

Ultimately, Byrd managed the multi-billion-dollar portfolio of 300 facilities, including hundreds of auctions and 20 corporate offices around the world.

His capstone project was leading the real estate effort to develop and construct the new corporate headquarters building in Carmel, Ind.

In addition to his acquisition and real estate development role at KAR Global, Byrd served as the chief operating officer for the ServNet Auction Group.

Byrd has also served on several industry boards and committees.

For 20 years, Byrd served as a board member leading the creation and growth of the industry technology consortium AutoIMS and for more than 10 years served on the joint marketing committee overseeing the industry database known as AuctionNet and on the NAAA executive committee and board of directors.