NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 19, 2013) — Sam Behr, famous for proclaiming "Tires Ain't Pretty" as the longtime spokesman for Allied Discount Tires in Orlando, Fla., died Nov. 16 at his home in New Smyrna Beach. He was 86.
Mr. Behr is the retired owner of Behr Shoe Center in Orlando, where he claimed he could "fit any human."
He is most famously known in the tire industry as the commercial spokesman for Allied Discount Tires for 20 years who made famous the "Tires Ain't Pretty" tag line. He also was a color commentator for the Orlando Thunder World League of American Football team during the 1991-92 season.
According to his obituary with the Settle-Wilder Funeral Home and Cremation Service in New Smyrna Beach, Mr. Behr was born in Talladega, Ala. He was a graduate of the University of Maryland where he played football and scored the first college touchdown for famed coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. An avid golfer, Mr. Behr was a member of the Interlachen Country Club, and shot his age when he was 74. A life master bridge player, he and his wife were active with bridge activities at Smyrna Yacht Club. His other interests included dancing with his wife Joanne and singing old standards.
Mr. Behr's wife of 29 years told the Orlando Sentinel that her husband "thought of things differently than most of us. His mind worked that way. He was always funny."
In addition to his wife, survivors include sons Jeff Behr and Phillip Behr; daughter Sheri Gray; stepson George Paulk; three stepdaughters, Mayme Paul, Bette-Jo Foster and Angie McKnight Randolph; and 14 grandchildren.
A celebration of Mr. Behr's life was scheduled to be held at 2 p.m. today at the Settle-Wilder New Smyrna Beach Chapel.The celebration will then continue at Smyrna Yacht Club. Condolences may be sent to the funeral home website.