The Tire Industry Association announced the 2013 inductees to the Tire Industry Hall of Fame recipients. Honorees include the late Lex Brodie, founder of Lex Brodie’s Tire Co.; Robert "Bob" Dunlap, CEO of Dunlap & Kyle Co. Inc.; and Richard "Dick" Johnson, retired chairman and CEO of American Tire Distributors.
Lex Brodie founded the Lex Brodie’s Tire Co.chain in 1961. Throughout his career Brodie was a master of branding, advertising and customer service. In 1975, he started the Small Business Association of Hawaii; in 1994, he received the Holo I Mua Award from the Better Business Bureau for being an outstanding local business; and in 2002 his tire company became the first in Hawaii to be approved as an AAA Approved Auto Repair Facility. Brodie passed away at the age of 98 on Jan. 11, 2013.
Robert "Bob" Dunlap, a retired Navy lieutenant, transformed an old junkyard on his father’s property where he sold used tires off junk cars into one of Mississippi’s largest companies. The company, which now operates Dunlap & Kyle Co., Hesselbein Tire Company, and Gateway Tire Company, has a total of 56 stores in seven states. Over the years Dunlap has served on various dealer councils and was a founding member of the TBC Corporation where he served on its board until 2000. Currently, Dunlap serves as president and CEO of Dunlap & Kyle Co.
Richard "Dick" Johnson served as chairman and CEO of ATD prior to his retirement in 2009. Johnson led ATD through years of growth, strengthening ATD by divesting its retail stores and improving its financial flexibility. In 2003, he was named as chairman of TIA’s first state association committee where Johnson worked with the executive directors of the state and regional dealer associations. Prior to becoming ATD’s chairman and CEO in 2003, he served as the company president since 2001. Johnson also worked as Heafner Tire Group’s Southeast Division president.
Additionally, TIA is honoring Greg Smith, publisher of Modern Tire Dealer, with the Ed Wagner Leadership Award, named for the late Ed Wagner who was a strong voice in the tire industry throughout his career.
Smith is a 33-year veteran of automotive trade publishing, having worked various publishing positions at the management level. Smith is a frequent speaker at industry events and advocates the industry internationally. Over the years Smith has actively participated on industry committees and boards including APAA, ASIA, AWDA, SEMA, NTDRA, TANA and TIA.
Inductions to the Hall of Fame and presentation of the Ed Wagner Leadership Award will take place at the Tire Industry Honors Awards Ceremony on Nov. 4, 6 – 7:30 p.m. at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The event is open to all and complimentary tickets may be reserved at www.tireindustry.org.
