The Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association has bestowed its Distinguished Service Award on Gary Tapella, president and chief executive officer of the Rheem Manufacturing Co., in recognition of his "significant contributions" to the industries that GAMA serves and to the public interest. In presenting the award, its first ever, GAMA cited Tapella's leadership in creating the GAMA Water Heater Division's Consumer Safety Awareness Campaign, designed to alert homeowners to the potential dangers of flammable vapor fires and excessively hot tap water in the home.