Leonard "Bucky" Stein, Tire Industry Hall of Fame member and founder of Target Tire, recently died. He was 96 years old.
Stein's father operated a one-man tire repair shop.
Stein went into business with him after World War II and later established Target Tire in Jacksonville, N.C. in 1963.
Stein started his own tire brand, Avalon, in 1970 and grew Target Tire into one of the largest tire distributors in the southeastern United States with more than 10 distribution centers and at one time, more than 1,800 customers.
In 2004, he was named chairman of American Car Care Centers and later that year, sold Target Tire to American Tire Distributors Inc.
In 2012, Stein was inducted into the North Carolina Tire Dealers Hall of Fame in 2012. Three years later, he was inducted into the Tire Industry Association's Tire Industry Hall of Fame.
Preceded by his wife, Ruth Stein, he is survived by his family. Burial services will take place on Feb. 17 at Haym Salomon Memorial Park in Frazer, Pa. More details are available here.
