Former T.O. Haas Tire President, George Hoellen, died on March 21 at the age of 70 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.
Hoellen retired in December 2021 when the company was acquired by Sun Auto Tire & Service Inc. He served as president of its retail division for more than 35 years and helped the company grow to 24 locations in three states in the Midwest — Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa.
Upon retirement, he and his wife of 50 years, Kathy, lived in Salado, Texas.
According to an obituary provided by the company, Hoellen got his start in the automotive industry at a young age working at a filling station in Omaha, Neb. He earned a degree in petroleum marketing and managed several stores under the Tires Inc. brand before joining T.O. Haas in 1984.
He was a past president of the Mid America Tire Dealers and served on the group's board of directors for more than 15 years. He also worked with AAA and the Lincoln (Neb.) Independent Business Association and promoted Chamber of Commerce participation throughout the T.O. Haas Tire footprint.
Funeral services for Hoellen were held April 2.
