Hoyt M. Wells, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.'s president between 1991 and 1995, has died.
Born in Auburn, Neb., in 1926, Wells started with Goodyear in 1951 as an engineer at the company's Lincoln, Neb., power transmission products plant.
After a four-year stint there, he was promoted to engineering manager at Goodyear's old North Chicago, Ill., hose manufacturing facility.
In 1972, after several years at Goodyear's molded and extruded products factory in St. Mary's, Ohio, Wells was named vice president of general products for Goodyear Canada Inc.
Assigned to the position of Goodyear corporate vice president in 1980, he was elected to executive vice president and also named president of general products in 1987.
In 1991, he became president and chief operating officer for the Akron, Ohio-based tiremaker.
"He was an outstanding professional engineer, a truly astute businessman and a highly respected industry and community leader," said former Goodyear Chairman Stan Gault upon learning of Wells' death.
"As a person, he was always known to be extremely trustworthy and a model for high integrity and admirable personal standards."
"Hoyt Wells was a great leader for this company," says Goodyear's Sam Gibara.
Wells, who retired in 1995, also had served as Goodyear's vice chairman.
An Akron resident, he leaves behind his wife, Meredith; two children; and grandchildren.
