Longtime industry veteran Bill Sweatt dies

Aug. 2, 2011

Well-known tire industry figure and former Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. general sales manager William “Bill” Sweatt passed away at the age of 85. Born in Lafayette, Calif., in 1926, he was a World War II veteran. He earned an AMP degree from Harvard University in 1975.

Following his marriage to wife Helen in 1947, Sweatt moved to Sacramento, Calif., where he began his career with Goodyear. He started out rolling tires, and over the years went through a series of promotions to eventually become Goodyear’s general sales manager at the Akron, Ohio headquarters.

In 1980 he was appointed CEO of Goodyear private label subsidiary Lee Tire, Conshohocken, Pa. He retired in 1987.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Helen, and four daughters. Services took place in Solvang, Calif.