Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber News
  • European Rubber Journal
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • Current Issue
  • BEST PLACES TO WORK
  • News
    • HUMANITARIAN
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
    • OBITUARIES
    • OPINION
    • MID YEAR REPORT
    • SERVICE ZONE
  • ADAS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Custom
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
  • Resources
    • Events
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
    • SHOP FLOOR
    • AWARDS
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Best Places to Work
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
June 22, 2006 02:00 AM

Charles R. Potter, co-founder of Area Wholesale Tire, dies

Tire Business Staff
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    BATON ROUGE, La. (June 22, 2006) — Charles R. “Bob” Potter, owner and CFO of Area Wholesale Tire Co. Inc., died June 9 at Baton Rouge General Medical Center-Bluebonnet. He was 70.

    Mr. Potter and his father, the late C.S. Potter, got started in the tire business in 1961 borrowing $25,000 to buy the assets of a Dayton Tire & Rubber Co. warehouse in Baton Rouge, which was known as Dayton Tire Co. of Lousiana Inc. Dayton Tire was in the process of being sold to Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. and was closing its warehouses across the country. Mr. Potter continued his job at Texaco Inc., in Fort Worth, Texas, where he was involved in dealer training. In 1965, he left Texaco and joined his dad in managing the dealership. In 1970, they renamed the business Area Wholesale Tire.

    The company, which started out with three employees, now has more than 125 and serves customers in Louisiana, Mississipi, Alabama, Arkansas and Texas through seven distribution centers in Louisiana and Texas and three associate centers in Texas and New Mexico. The wholesaler's corporate headquarters, wholesale and mixing warehouses and retread plant are in Baton Rouge. As of 2005 annual revenue had grown to more than $73.8 million.

    Mr. Potter's son, W.B. “Billy” Potter took over as president of the dealership in 2003.

    He said his father was still involved in the business and had no plans to retire.

    “He just kind of sat in the background but was still involved on a day to day basis” until he was hospitalized in late December, Billy Potter said. “He liked to open the mail everyday and see all the bills and all the money that was coming in.”

    The younger Mr. Potter said Area Wholesale Tire will cotinue to grow and move full speed forward.

    Mr. Potter received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Texas Christian University. He then served eight years of reserve duty in the U.S. Navy before being honorably discharged. His 50th wedding anniversary with wife Mary Frances Greely would have been July 28.

    Mr. Potter was inducted into the Louisiana Tire Dealers Hall of Fame in 2001. He served on the board of directors of Great American Corp., the former National Tire Dealers & Retreaders Association and Sure Tire Co. as well as on the executive council of Sure Tire and on the distributor councils for the Remington and Mastercraft tire brands and Long Mile tread rubber. Mr. Potter also was involved in several business and civic organizations.

    He is survived by his wife, Mary; his sister, Marion Giardina of Westwego, La.; daughters Debbie Terrell and Cherie Cornett of Baton Rouge; son William B. Potter of Baton Rouge; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    Tire Discounters grows again, adds Skip Cottrell's
    2
    Icahn-owned Auto Plus files for Chapter 11 protection
    3
    Truck sector leads U.S. tire market; consumer down
    4
    K&M welcomes dealers to annual conference in Vegas
    5
    Black's Tire Service holds leadership conference
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    Reader Services
    • Staff
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • BEST PLACES TO WORK
    • News
      • HUMANITARIAN
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
      • OBITUARIES
      • OPINION
      • MID YEAR REPORT
      • SERVICE ZONE
    • ADAS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Custom
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Resources
      • Events
        • ASK THE EXPERT
        • LIVESTREAMS
        • WEBINARS
        • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
        • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
      • SHOP FLOOR
        • BALANCING
        • DEMOUNTING
        • SAFETY
        • TIRE REPAIR
        • TPMS
        • TRAINING
        • VEHICLE LIFTING
        • WHEEL TORQUE
      • AWARDS
        • Best Places to Work
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION