MONTICELLO, Ind.—Ross Fischer, former owner of Monticello-based McCord Auto Supply Inc., died May 21 at age 82 of complications from a blood clot.
Mr. Fischer went to work for McCord Auto Supply in Watseka, Ill., in the 1950s when the business was owned by Verlon McCord.
Mr. Fischer eventually became Mr. McCord's partner and opened his own McCord Auto Supply shop in Monticello in 1959.
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 also known in the tire industry for his role in developing a wheel application for Goodyear's flotation tires, allowing them to be adapted for farm use.
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 a sister and two grandsons.