James D. Winsor, 82, journalist

James D. Winsor IV, 82, formerly of Ardmore, a journalist in the trucking and equipment engine industry, died Wednesday, April 8, of congestive heart failure at his home in Beaumont at Bryn Mawr.

For 52 years, Mr. Winsor was employed by two national trucking publications - 16 of them with Commercial Carrier Journal, a Chilton magazine, and the rest with Heavy Duty Trucking magazine, part of Newport Communications Group in Irvine, Calif.

Mr. Winsor won the American Business Media's Neal Award 12 times for articles written about trucking-related topics. The Neal Award is similar to the Pulitzer Prize given for top news and feature stories.

He won his first Neal Award for writing about trucks idling for hours at truck stops. "It made no sense to him during one of the first eras of energy conservation and environmental awareness, and his curiosity challenged a very long-standing practice," wrote his daughter, Susan Winsor, in an e-mail.

He also received the American Business Media's Crain Award for his distinguished career in business journalism.

"He was so lucky to be working in a business he loved," said his wife, Donna Fiester Winsor.

But Mr. Winsor did not just write about big rigs; he also drove them, earning a commercial driver's license so that when manufacturers rolled out new products, he could test them.

From time to time, he would get on the highway as a public service. Once, he delivered a tractor-trailer load of hay donated by Pennsylvania's farmers to feed cattle left hungry by a drought in central Florida.

Another time, he was on the team that delivered clothing donated by Carlisle, Pa., residents to hurricane victims in South Florida. He also helped deliver the national Christmas tree to Washington.

When he wasn't working, friends said, Mr. Winsor could be found astride Jasper or Mars, the family's two horses, riding the Bridlewild Trails in Gladwyne. He was a tireless volunteer with the U.S. Pony Clubs and supporter of youth-related causes.

He served as treasurer and then president of the Bridlewild Trails Association for 15 years. The nonprofit maintains and preserves Lower Merion's many miles of walking and riding trails as well as open space. He was treasurer of the U.S. Pony Clubs for eight years. He also served on the boards of the West Philadelphia YMCA; Junior Achievement, which teaches youngsters about how to handle money; and the Montgomery Country Day School.

Born in Philadelphia, he graduated from St. George's School, Middletown, R.I., and from the University of Pennsylvania in 1955. He served two years as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Transportation Corps, most of it in West Germany.

Mr. Winsor was a 50-year member of the Transportation and Maintenance Council of the American Trucking Associations and was active in the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association.

His daughter wrote that her father had a tremendous appreciation for the everyday working man. That meant "anyone who tangibly maintained, created or repaired things. I believe this came from a deep respect for the human spirit and work ethic," she wrote.

In person, he was very forthright, his wife said: "He told it like it was."

Besides his wife and daughter, he is survived by a son, James, and four grandchildren.

A memorial service is to be at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 2, in the music room at Beaumont at Bryn Mawr, 601 N. Ithan Ave., Bryn Mawr. Burial was private.

Donations may be made to Bridlewild Trails Association, P.O. Box 368, Gladwyne, Pa. 19035, and the Beaumont Scholarship Fund, for the community's employees, at the address above.