LOS ANGELES-Loyd O. Dodson, the man who popularized Vogue Tyre & Rubber Co.'s wide-whitewall tires by selling them to movie stars during the 1930s, died of natural causes March 29 at Eisenhower Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was 94. Mr. Dodson entered the tire business in Los Angeles with his brother-in-law, Jack MacDonald, selling General brand tires in a small corner shop. In 1925, the two borrowed $6,000 to become the sole distributors of Falls Rubber Co. tires in Southern California. One year later, just prior to Mr. MacDonald's death, they opened a branch in San Francisco.
In 1928, Mr. Dodson contracted with Vogue Tyre owners Harry Hower and Margaret Woodbury to begin selling their distinctive whitewall tires. When the Great Depression hit in 1929, he turned to a unique local industry.
``We struggled through the Depression years by marketing Vogue Tyres in Los Angeles to the motion picture stars, etc., who still had relatively good incomes and could buy large cars-practically all large-car sales were based upon six tires,'' Mr. Dodson wrote in his memoirs.
In 1942, he bought Vogue Tyre for $50,000 and remained its chairman until his death.
He was inducted into the Tire Industry Hall of Fame in 1990.
His wife, Bernice, died previously. Survivors include: son Warren L. Dodson, executive vice president of Vogue Tyre; daughter Lucille, whose husband, Joel Fischer, is Vogue Tyre president; two grandsons; and a granddaughter.
Albert Silbestri
JOHNSTON, R.I.-Albert ``Dolly'' Silvestri, 80, founder of three local businesses, including Ocean State Tire, died Jan. 14 at his home in Johnston.
Mr. Silvestri started Ocean State Tire & Fleet Maintenance in 1980 and worked at the retail/commercial dealership until his death, according to Manager Craig Pirie, who is Mr. Silvestri's grandson.
Besides Mr. Pirie, survivors include one daughter, one son, four other grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.