The Alabama Tire Dealers Association (ATDA) elected new officers at its annual convention and general business meeting held last month in Stone Mountain, Ga.
Mike Griffin of McGriff Tire in Huntsville, Ala., was elected president; Dolan Davis Jr., Southside Davis Tire, Tuscaloosa, was elected first vice president; Scott Roberson, Royal Tire Service, Sylacuaga, was named second vice president; and Bob Gipson, Gipson Auto Tire, Prattville, secretary/treasurer.
Elected to the board were Michael Johnston, Tire Engineers, Birmingham; and Steve Westmoreland, Westmoreland Tire, Ft. Payne. Returning board members are Bruce Bedsole, Herndon Tire, Eufaula; Robert Bell, Birmingham Auto Clean, Birmingham; David Bracato, Frederickson’s Tire, Sheffield; Richard Greene, Trax Tire, Theodore; Dewane Haynes, Sweat Tire, Robertsdale; and Jim Short, Radial Tire, Jasper (TIA representative).
The Past President’s Council consists of Eddie Hardwick, Road-Mart, Ozark; Barry McGirt, American Tire Distributors, Cullman; Rhett Marques, Goodson Tires, Enterprise;, and Steve Breland, Top Line Tires, Huntsville.
Frank Harcrow, Tire Supplies of Alabama, Fultondale, and Paul Higgins, S & S Tire, Theodore, were named supplier representatives.
Convention highlights included a golf tournament, a laser show, educational sessions and two banquet events. At the Saturday night Scholarship Banquet, the 2010 Scholarship Recipients were announced: Mary Beth Seale (sponsored by Westmoreland Tire Co.), Tiffany Carroll (sponsored by Wilks Tire), Bridget Trammell (sponsored by McGriff Industries), Justin Lee (sponsored by McGriff Tire), and Kaleb McCreless (sponsored by McGriff Tire).
The two newest members of the ATDA Hall of Fame were also inducted: Jim Whaley from Jim Whaley’s Tires in Dothan, and Frank Harcrow from Tire Supplies of Alabama in Fultondale.
Whaley started working in the tire industry at 15 with Big 10 Tires. He opened Jim Whaley’s Tires Inc. in 1986 in Dothan. The business has grown to include three locations in Dothan, one in Enterprise, one in Ozark and a wholesale warehouse in Dothan. He is a past president of the ATDA and served on the board of directors for many years, also serving on the scholarship committee.
Harcrow began working in the tire industry at 14 at OK Tire in Gadsden. His work affiliations have included Woolco, Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., Hefner Tire, and four years with Southeastern Tire Supply. In 1988, he went to work for Dugco Supply. In 2003, Frank teamed up with Steve Westmoreland to form Tire Supplies of Alabama. He has served in every position of the ATDA board of directors and executive committee and as chairman of the March Mania Trade Show Committee.
