Many Fountain Tire associates and family members came to honour company founder Bill Fountain, who started out in a small double-bay garage in 1956 in Wainwright, Alberta. Several present and past executives paid tribute to Fountain (who died in a tragic auto accident in 1976) in a polished and moving video presentation.
His original vision and unique system of joint partnerships that nurtures store managers into store owners has produced a network of 140 stores across western Canada from Victoria to Thunder Bay.
Fountain Tire CEO Brent Hesje says, “Partnerships with store managers is a Bill Fountain principle that has withstood the 50 year test of time. In today’s world where company loyalty is rare, we believe more than ever in sharing ownership with the store managers to drive excellent customer service.” Accepting on behalf of her father was Shannon Anders and grandson Bill Lumley.
Also inducted was Stan Harper, who joined Harper’s Tire Calgary in 1960 and even today, he remains involved in the family business, now Harper’s Tire (1931) Ltd. Harper was one of the original group who met in Banff in 1962 to organize the Western Canada Tire Dealers & Retreaders Association.
Presenter Richard Allen recognized Harper with the 2006 Pioneer Member Award in addition to the Hall of Fame Award “because of his dedication and commitment to the WCTD, community involvement and the tire and automotive industry itself.”
In accepting, Harper said, “I have to say that for me and my family the tire business has been a good way of life. We’ve enjoyed it. And really enjoyed being a part of this organisation.”
At that same founding meeting was William (Bill) Kirk, who founded Kirk’s Tire in 1936 in a small, 800 sq. ft. shop in downtown Lethbridge, Alberta. Kirk started out selling tires and fixing flats on the street but, by 1951, the business moved to better equipped and larger premises, and continued to grow to several locations.
Tragically, Bill and his wife Helen, were also involved in a fatal car accident in Phoenix, Arizona in 1989. However, the solid groundwork laid by Bill Kirk paid off and the company today boasts successful stores in Brooks, Cardston, Calgary, Vulcan, Redcliff and Taber, Alberta, as well as over 50,000 sq. ft. at its new Lethbridge location.
Bill Kirk was a recipient of the Gordon Storey Award in recognition and appreciation of his outstanding contribution to the growth and development of the WCTDRA and the Pioneer Member Award for his vision in the growth and development of the WCTDRA, 1962–1987. Accepting his father’s Hall of Fame Award was Bill’s son, Gary Kirk.
