Rick Crook, owner of Glacier Collision Worx, has been inducted into the WyoTech Hall of Fame.

“I got into the exploratory side of seismic surveying and then that fell through in 2015 when the oil and gas prices drastically went down,” said Crook. “Then in 2016 [the industry] tanked so I was laid off.”

Crook applied for a grant for displaced workers from the state of Montana on “a hope and a prayer” to finally attend WyoTech. Because there are no other trade schools in Montana for auto restoration, Crook was able to use the grant out of state finally entering his dream field.

At age 40, Crook finally attended WyoTech, a trade school in Laramie, Wyoming, creating a pathway to opening his own shop Glacier Collision Worx. He graduated from WyoTech in 2016 with a diploma in collision and refinishing with upholstery, and again in 2017 with a specialty degree in applied service management.

“I'm proud of my wife because she supported me throughout the years. I would never have done any of this without her. She is my biggest asset.”

Now, Crook is being honored by the trade school that specializes in training students in auto mechanics, diesel tech, auto body and welding. He has been inducted into the WyoTech Hall of Fame.

Crook graduated with a 4.0 GPA and perfect attendance. He received honors as an Eagle Tech, team leader, and honor student, and in 2017, he spoke at his graduation as the outstanding student in his specialization.

After graduating, and working in another auto repair shop for four years, Crook opened Glacier Collision Worx in 2021 and earned second-place finishes in Best of the Flathead in 2022 and 2023.

Giving back is one of the pillars of Crook’s business model as he has partnered with the Make-A-Wish foundation to restore a truck for a local teen battling cancer, worked with Toys for Tots,

Crook is the only inductee from Montana, but hopes to encourage his community, especially young people, to pursue the trades, if that is their dream. He hopes to open his shop for high school students interested in the trades so they can see an actual working shop before going to college.

“A lot of people say you have to go to college or you're never going to make it. But that's, that's false. We need to help the trades and it doesn't have to be collision and finishing. I'm a huge advocate for all trades because that's what keeps America going,” said Crook.

“Don't give up if you have a dream,” he added. “Even though the course of life changed my path for a while, I still never gave up.”

https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2024/aug/05/business-owner-honored-for-commitment-to-automotive-trade