On September 18^th 2001, Ron Aebly, Special Agent with the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), member of the Board of Directors of AVCAW, Ex FBI agent, father, husband and friend of many, passed away. His untimely passing struck many of us with an additional shot of reality at a time when no more reality was needed.

Ron worked tirelessly in his duties with NICB, being there when needed days, nights and weekends. His constant diligence and "here to serve" attitude helped many individuals in the insurance and law enforcement communities. His assistance to those in need also in turn helped those companies and agencies employing these professionals. Ron also offered invaluable assistance as a Board member of AVCAW, serving also on the annual seminar planning committee and many, many subcommittees. We will all miss Ron, not only for his humble assistance, but mostly for his friendship.

It is in this spirit that the AVCAW Board of Directors, minus one vote (Aebly), put forth and approved the creation of the Ron Aebly Award of Excellence. This award will be presented  to an AVCAW member who best exemplifies those traits that were put forth by the standard bearer, Ron Aebly.

The Ron Aebly Award of Excellence will be presented as called for by the Anti-Vehicle Crime Association of Wisconsin, Inc.  If you would like to nominate an individual you feel is deserving of this award, please submit the information via email to avcaw at avcaw dot org, or regular email to AVCAW, P O Box 1522, Brookfield, WI  53008-1522.

The first award plaque read as follows:

IN RECOGNITION OF SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT AND FOR RISING ABOVE AND BEYOND THE HIGHEST STANDARDS, THE ANTI-VEHICLE CRIME ASSOCIATION OF WISCONSIN, PRESENTS THIS DISTINGUISHED AWARD OF EXCELLENCE TO:

RON AEBLY

SPECIAL AGENT

NATIONAL INSURANCE CRIME BUREAU

FOR BEING INSTRUMENTAL IN DETERRING VEHICLE RELATED CRIMES AND INSURANCE FRAUD, BEING AN EXCELLENT RESOURCE ON VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION AND PROVIDING TRAINING AT AVCAW SEMINARS.  HIS RECOMMENDATIONS, PROFESSIONAL INVESTIGATIONS AND GUIDANCE HAVE LED TO COOPERATIVE EFFORTS BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF VEHICLE FRAUD IN WISCONSIN.

IN MEMORY OF RON, EACH YEAR THE ANTI-VEHICLE CRIME ASSOCIATION OF WISCONSIN (AVCAW) WILL RECOGNIZE AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP WHO HAS EXEMPLIFIED THEMSELVES IN THE FIELD OF VEHICLE CRIME AND INSURANCE FRAUD.  THIS AWARD WILL BE KNOWN AS THE "RON AEBLY AWARD OF EXCELLENCE".