MONTICELLO, Ind. (June 7, 2013) — Ross Fischer, former owner of Monticello-based McCord Auto Supply Inc., died May 21 at age 82 of complications from a blood clot.
Raised on a dairy farm in Cissna Park, Ill., Mr. Fischer went to work for McCord Auto in Watseka, Ill., in the 1950s. At that time the business was owned by Verlon McCord.
Mr. Fischer eventually became Mr. McCord's partner in the business, moving in 1959 to Monticello, where he opened his own McCord Auto shop. He became sole owner of the company in 1964 and went on to expand the operation to 14 locations in Indiana, Illinois, Kansas and Minnesota. He sold the business to Pomp's Tire Service Inc. in 2010.
Mr. Fischer was best-known in the tire industry for his role in developing a wheel application for Goodyear's flotation tires, allowing them to be adapted for use in agriculture.
Mr. Fischer is survived by his wife, Beverly; daughters Jo Anna (Chris) Elliott, De Anna (Mark) Paschen and Anna Lynn (Tyler) Perrin; and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sister, Vera Fischer, and two grandsons.