Gus Hawkinson, Nick Hodel, Jerry White, Gary Nash, Don Blythe and Russell MacCleery will be inducted into the Tire Industry Hall of Fame this November.
The Tire Industry Association (TIA) released the list of inductees earlier today, Aug. 11.
Hawkinson is the owner of Hawkinson Tire Consulting, based in Las Vegas, Nev. Prior to his current position, he was the third-generation owner of Paul E. Hawkinson Co. and has been credited with many developments and innovations in the retread industry, including developing industry-standard NDT testing in 1980.
Hodel is the co-founder of Northwest Tire Factory LLC, one of the country's largest and most influential program groups, and also served as the chief executive of that organization for many years. He is a past president of the Tire Association of North America, TIA's predecessor.
White, the chairman of White Tire Supply in Beaumont, Texas, has 60 years of experience in the tire industry. He is a founding member of the Texas Tire Dealers Association and has served on numerous industry boards, including the board of the old National Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association (NTDRA).
Nash, a 45-year tire industry veteran, has been a major player in the OTR tire segment for 35 years. Currently director of OTR sales for Yokohama Tire Corp., he also has worked for Purcell Tire & Rubber Co., Bridgestone Corp. and Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
Blythe is the former executive director of the Western Canada Tire Dealers Association (WCTDA). Under his leadership, the WCTDA became one of the most successful tire associations on the continent.
MacCleery has years of experience working for many trade associations. He created the government affairs department of the NTDRA.
TIA's Tire Industry Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place Monday, Nov. 1, at 6 p.m. at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas.
