The North Carolina Tire Dealers Association (NCTDA) inducted two tire industry veterans into its Hall of Fame at the NCTDA’s annual Buying Expo & Trade Show in Raleigh, N.C., Feb. 17-18, 2012.
Bucky Stein, Target Tire, Jacksonville, N.C., and George Pugh, Pugh’s Tire Service, Greenville, N.C., are this year's inductees.
Stein was honored for his business accomplishments as founder of Target Tire. Born in 1925 to a father who had a one-man tire repair shop, he went into business with him after World War II. He founded Target Tire in 1963 and started his own tire brand, Avalon, in 1970. He sold Target Tire in 2004 and the last of the company’s retail stores was sold in 2011.
Pugh is being recognized as founder of Pugh’s Tire Service. Born in 1922, he remained active in the business until 2011. Over the years the business expanded to six retail stores, one warehouse, one parts store and one distribution center. His business motto is, “You cannot sell it if you do not have it, and if you do not take care of the customer, someone else will”
In addition to targeted business development seminars and a trade show, the event included NCTDA’s inaugural annual College Scholarship Foundation awards. Recipients are Kristin Brady, a student currently enrolled at High Point University majoring in Middle Grade Education. Her grandfather, Ledford Brady, is owner of B&B Tire Service of Chatham County.
Also receiving an award was Raymond Labrador, currently enrolled at the University of South Carolina majoring in Chemical Engineering. His father Larry Hook is an employee of Hook Tire & Service, Waxhaw, N.C.
NCTDA also presented its Outstanding Service Award to past president and former board member Gary Baldree, Baldree’s Tire, Havelock, N.C., for 20 years of service to the NCTDA and the industry.
For more Information, see the NCTDA's website at http://www.nctdra.com/convention.htm
