CHICAGO-Michael J. ``Red'' Lanham, 42, an indoor service manager for Stone Wheel Inc., died Aug. 21 after suffering a heart attack while competing in the Chicago Triathlon. Mr. Lanham entered the tire business in 1971 working for Foley Tire Co. before joining Stone Wheel at its Willowbrook, Ill., location in 1976. He had worked as the service manager for the warehouse/distributing company for the past five years.
He is survived by his wife, Kathy, two sons and a daughter.
Robert L. Yaple
ST. CHARLES, Ill.-Robert L. ``Bud'' Yaple, 71, former executive vice president of Ben Tire Distributors in Toledo, Ill., died Sept. 9 at his daughter's St. Charles home.
Mr. Yaple began his career in the tire business as a store trainee for the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. in 1947 and later became a Firestone regional sales manager based in Akron. Mr. Yaple eventually left Firestone to become vicepresident of sales for Denman Tire & Rubber Co. Beginning in 1967, he served as executive vice president of sales for TBC Corp. In 1974, he left TBC to become an executive vice president at Ben Tire Distributors. He retired in 1985.
Mr. Yaple had served as a director for both the Illinois State Tire Dealers & Retreaders Association and the National Tire Dealers & Retreaders Association.
Survivors include his wife,Sarah; and daughters, Linda Helton and Diane Skidmore, who works at Independent Tire in Batavia, Ill.
Mary Beatty
ISLINGTON, Ontario-Mary Beatty, 70, co-owner of Cramar Distributors Inc., died of cancer in her Islington home July 22.
Mrs. Beatty founded Cramar Distributors, an exclusive Canadian distributor of International Marketing Inc. products, with her son, Craig, in 1987. She served as secretary/treasurer of the firm, which also distributes new tires.
Survivors include her husband, former Ontario Tire Dealers Association president Les Beatty, general manager for Wheel Care Retreading and a retreading consultant; and her son, now owner and president of Cramar Distributing.