Tire Rack issued a statement yesterday announcing the passing of Chairman Emeritus and founder Peter “Pete” Veldman, 87.
“Pete embodied the American dream with his bold trailblazing accomplishments within the tire and wheel industry. His leadership and presence within the Tire Rack walls for 35 years was marked by an unfettered energy and drive for excellence that will absolutely endure in everyone that was fortunate to know him, work for him and learn from him,” said Matt Edmonds, vice president of Tire Rack. “Pete was a selfless man who actively served his community and enjoyed providing family, friends and colleagues with tools needed to succeed.”
The South Bend, Ind.-based company was founded as a retail tire store in 1979 by Veldman and his son-in-law Mike Joines. After three years, the company shifted, adding a mail-order operation. That business took off, and by 1990, The Tire Rack closed its retail store to focus entirely to mail order and eventually online tire and wheel sales.
Today, the company that he founded is the world’s largest online tire and wheel seller, with five warehouses around the U.S.
Veldman, who was inducted into the Tire Industry Hall of Fame in 2012, was skeptical when first approached with the idea of creating a mail-order tire company. Today, the company’s website has over 50 million viewers annually, more than any other tire company and more than most automakers.
Veldman, a U.S. Army veteran himself who had competed service tours in the Korean War, also supported many community efforts, especially those targeting military veterans.
“The drive that fueled Pete to succeed and spread joy within this country after migrating here in 1946 will forever live throughout the walls of Tire Rack as we continue to carry his light into the tire and wheel industry by continuing to look for new ways to spark innovation,” said Edmonds. “He will truly be missed.”
Pete’s memorial visitation will be held Wednesday, March 5 from 2-8 p.m. EST at Kaniewski Funeral Home located at 3545 N. Bendix Dr. in South Bend, Ind., and his Mass of Christian Burial will take place Thursday, March 6 at 10 am EST at Christ the King Catholic Church located at 52473 State Route 933 in South Bend, Ind.
In lieu of flowers, Tire Rack would like to ask that you consider a charitable contribution in Pete’s honor to the Holy Cross Mission Center, P.O. Box 543 Notre Dame, Ind. or the Women’s Care Center,360 N. Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, Ind. 46617.
This information is an update on a previous story.