FINDLAY, Ohio (Dec. 18, 2002) — Pat Rooney, former chairman and CEO of Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. and a member of the Tire Industry Hall of Fame, died today at his home in Findlay. He was 67.
Mr. Rooney retired in 2000 after 44 years with the company. He had started as a sales trainee with the Findlay-based tire company in 1956. In 1991, he was named president and chief operating officer. Three years later he became Cooper's chairman and CEO.
In 2000, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the former Tire Association of North America, which became the Tire Industry Association last July after its merger with the International Tire & Rubber Association.
In a written statement, John Fahl, former president of Cooper Tire, said he had worked with Mr. Rooney for more than 40 years.
"I enjoyed working with Pat, and I admired all that he did for Cooper, its employees and the community we live in," he said. "Pat's accomplishments both at Cooper and throughout our community will long be remembered. All of us at Cooper felt a sense of loss when Pat retired, but his passing is a personal loss to me."
Mr. Rooney is survived by his wife, Sondra, and four children.
According to Cooper Tire, visitation for Mr. Rooney will be from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, at Kirkpatrick-Behnke Funeral Home, 500 Lima Avenue, Findlay (phone 419-422-2626).
His funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21, at St. Michael´s Catholic Church, 617 West Main Cross, Findlay.
The company said memorials can be made to the Patrick Rooney Scholarship Fund at The University of Findlay, 1000 North Main Street, Findlay, Ohio, 45840.