Donald G. Brotzman, 82, who served as president of the Rubber Manufacturers Association from 1977 to 1989, died of cancer Sept. 15 at a nursing home in Alexandria.
Mr. Brotzman-who also served five terms in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican representing his native Colorado-led the rubber industry's responses to some of the biggest challenges it has faced, including the establishment of Uniform Tire Quality Grading.
He also was instrumental in bringing some of the biggest names in the international tire industry-Michelin, Bridgestone and Continental-into the RMA fold as members.
``Mac Lovell (Malcolm R. Lovell Jr., who served as RMA president immediately before Mr. Brotzman) set the stage, but Brotz closed the deal'' on the membership of international companies, said Frank Ryan, who was RMA vice president of government relations during Mr. Brotzman's tenure as president.
Donald B. Shea, the RMA's current president, noted the help and advice Mr. Brotzman gave him when he first took the association's top position. ``He was a very outgoing, dynamic guy, and he will be missed,'' Mr. Shea said.
Mr. Brotzman served in the House from 1963 to 1965 and again from 1967 to 1975. During his time there, he served on the Ways and Means Committee-or, as he called it with rueful humor, ``the Ways to Be Mean Committee.''
President Gerald Ford appointed Mr. Brotzman in 1975 to be assistant secretary of the Army for manpower and reserve affairs. He played a key role in the transition of the post-Vietnam Army to an all-volunteer force.
Mr. Brotzman's first wife, Louise Reed Brotzman, died in 1995. The couple was married 51 years. He is survived by his second wife, Gwendolyn Davis Brotzman; a daughter from his first marriage, Kathleen ``Kathy'' Caldwell of Longmont, Colo.; a son from his first marriage, Donald G. ``Chip'' Brotzman Jr. of Carbondale, Colo.; a stepson, Robert Higgins of Philippi, W. Va.; a brother; and six grandchildren.