Bob Ulrich

Editor

Bob Ulrich was named Modern Tire Dealer editor in August 2000. He joined the magazine in 1985 as assistant editor, and has been responsible for gathering statistical information for MTD's "Facts Issue" since 1993. He has won numerous awards for editorial and feature writing, including five gold medals from the International Automotive Media Association. Bob earned a B.A. in English literature from Ohio Northern University and has a law degree from the University of Akron.

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Saying goodbye to Bulldog

By: Bob Ulrich

For those of you old enough to remember, "Bulldog" Drummond was a fictional British detective popularized in books, movies, radio and television, in that order.

His pop culture credibility even extends to music. In the Coasters' hit "Searchin," the song's central character is trying to find a girl: 

"Well, Sherlock Holmes, Sam Spade got nothing, child, on me. Sergeant Friday, Charlie Chan and Boston Blackie.

"No matter where she's hiding, she's gonna hear me, cause I'm gonna walk right down that street, like Bulldog Drummond, because I've been searching."

Not coincidentally, Nelson Drummond, the longtime executive director of the Arkansas Independent Tire Dealers Association (AITDA), was nicknamed Bulldog. He wasn't British, but, like his imaginary counterpart, he was an imposing figure, both honorable and dependable. He liked the name.

Drummond, the real one, died July 6 at his home in Horseshoe Bend, Ark., following a battle with cancer. For the last 15 years, he had served the AITDA and its members well.

His ties to our industry extend beyond that. He spent 30-plus years at Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. before he "retired."

Roland Foster, store manager of Fleet Tire Service in Russellville, Ark. and past president of the AITDA, knew Bulldog well.

"I tell you what, he was hard to beat," says Foster. "He was one of those type persons that when you met him, he stuck out there, and you remembered him forever.

"He was a likeable fellow. He did what he said he would do. He and his wife, Marguerite, went everywhere together, and they were good for the association."

Bulldog was one of the good guys. He is the only executive director outside Ohio who visited the Modern Tire Dealer offices in Akron, Ohio (we have since moved to nearby Uniontown). He did so on a couple of occasions because he liked us and we liked him.

Bulldog died at the age of 69. But, like his namesake, he was a memorable character, and will live on because of the positive effect he had on so many others.

The AITDA is in the process of setting up a memorial fund in Drummond's name. We won't forget him, either.

Related Topics: AITDA, Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., Fleet Tire Service, Tire dealer associations

comments

1. Todd | July 20, 2009 at 05:31PM
   Bob, Thank you for taking the time to let others know how great Bulldog was. He was a great man who always went an extra 10 miles!
   
   he meant the world to me, my dad Doc Holliday and many others in the TN KY Tire Dealers Association as well! Again THANK YOU! Todd

2. Kenny | July 28, 2009 at 06:58AM
   Bulldog loved life. He worked hard for our association, and played hard as well. He will be missed. Kenny VanHook El Dorado, AR.

3. Lelon | August 30, 2009 at 04:37PM
   Thanks for the kind words about our friend, Bulldog. Having him as our Executive Director of the AITDA was always interesting, and certainly never boring. He will certainly be missed as we attempt to further the causes that he helped begin. Lelon Cross Little Rock, AR