The Ewers Family Award
This award is presented each year to an individual who has demonstrated a long history of significant and outstanding achievement in the mailing services industry. It can be won only once, and past recipients select each new winner. Its presentation is one of the highlights of every Conference.
This award was created in 1971, and originally was called the Housouer-Glassman Award. It was established to honor the memory of Jimmy Housouer and Martha Glassman for their contributions to the direct mail industry and their active role in the early days of the Southwest Mail Producers Guild, the forerunner of today’s association.
In 1995, the award was re-named the Helsley Award to recognize the efforts of a family who were near and dear to the hearts of many of our members. The Helsley’s were not mailers themselves, but their company, AMSCO, was a major supplier of mailing equipment to letter shops in the southwest. They were devoted to our industry and are best known for making it possible for mailers to purchase new equipment through their ability to provide flexible payment options. Many companies owe their successful start-up and early growth to the Helsleys’ tireless efforts. Ed, Rusty, Jimmy, and Tommy have all passed away, but this family was a key supplier in the mailing industry.
In 2025, the award is being renamed the Ewers Family Award. The Ewers family has played an important role in the mailing and fulfillment industry both in the Southwest, and across the country.
Ruthie Ewers started in the mailing industry in 1961 by answering a help ad to put on address labels by hand in Oklahoma City. In 1966, the Dinwiddie company moved the Ewers to run their door-to-door delivery and mailing service in Dallas. In 1974, the Ewers family, including sons Joe and Ronnie, started their own mailing business, LEE Distributing. The company successfully grew to over 350 employees offering mailing, list, fulfillment, and presort services until it was sold to the Omaha World Herald in 1998.
Ruthie helped to establish the Dallas PCC, which is one of the first Postal Customer Councils in the country. Ruthie was named the first National Co-Chair and voluntarily spoke at almost every PCC across the country. Norbert was always at her side. Joe and Ronnie are currently working in the mailing industry, speaking and attending several conferences every year and earning multiple industry awards. Joe served on the NAAD board. Ronnie is currently serving on the DFW PCC board, along with his wife, Becky, who started her career in the mailing industry in 1986. Ruthie, Joe, and Ronnie have been past presidents of MFSA-SW and served on the National MFSA board.
Stay tuned for more details as the 2025 Annual Conference approaches.
