The Tire Industry Association (TIA) inducted six tire industry luminaries into its Tire Industry Hall of Fame last night during the group’s Tire Industry Honors event.
Honorees included Jerry White, chairman emeritus of White Tire Supply in Beaumont, Texas; Gary Nash, vice president of OTR sales for Yokohama Tire Corp.; Gus Hawkinson, former owner of the Paul E. Hawkinson Co. and current tire industry consultant; Nick Hodel, founder of Northwest Tire Factory LLC; Don Blythe, former president of OK Tire and ex-president/executive director of the Western Canada Tire Dealers Association; and Russell MacCleery, who established the government affairs program for TIA’s forerunner, the National Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association.
“Making the TIA Hall of Fame is truly gratifying,” Nash told more than 200 attendees. “There’s nothing like being recognized for (your contributions)…in all honesty, the many friends I’ve made deserve this honor.”
After the Hall of Fame inductions, Wayne Croswell, former TIA president, also reflected on his term. “I’m pleased to say that through these difficult times, we, as an association, have grown and prospered.”
He also plugged the Global Tire Expo -- Powered by TIA section of the 2010 Specialty Equipment Market Association Show, which officially opens today. “We have more than 250 exhibitors, and more than 9,000 (show) attendees have been identified as being tire-related.”
