Lutz first opened Art Lutz Shell Service station in 1940, then formed the Portland-based Lutz Tire wholesale tire distributorship in 1969. Lutz Tire was the first company in the U.S. to import Bridgestone-brand tires, and it also gained exclusive regional distribution rights for other tire brands such as Cooper, Nitto, Yokohama and Remington.
He also served as president of the Northwest Tire Dealers Association and as president of the NTDRA from 1993-1994.
Lutz retired in 1996 at the age of 82, closing the business.
He is survived by his wife Cheryl; children Arthur Lutz and Carol Heermance; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. (Tire Review/Akron)