H&H founder Mike Hickman dies at 71

NORMAN, Okla. (March 11, 2015) — Michael Allen Hickman, founder and part-owner of OTR tire retreader H&H Industries Inc., died March 6 at age 71 in Norman after an extended illness.

Mr. Hickman also was a former president of H&H, according to his son, Noah M. Hickman, president and part-owner of the Oak Hill, Ohio-based retreader.

Noah Hickman said that many years ago his father “was convinced by a friend and former U.S. military paratrooper that the tire business was his calling.

“Following his service in the military, Mike started a small retail and retread tire business in Ashland, Ky. As the business expanded and his clientele grew, Mike opened himself up for bigger challenges and expanded over to the OTR tire industry.

“In doing so, he found himself traveling up to Oak Hill many times throughout the week to visit a small OTR retreading service.”

When the elder Mr. Hickman's needs or those of his customers could no longer be accommodated by his current tire provider, Noah Hickman said his dad accepted an offer to purchase a small, single-bay facility in 1978 in Oak Hill. That entity has since “morphed into a 90,000-sq.-ft. facility located on a 25-acre lot that houses the most state-of-the-art OTR retread/repair equipment as well as an inventory consisting of used, new and retread/repairable OTR casings….”

Mr. Hickman's “desire to become the largest OTR retreader on the planet” will continue through the work of his family, including his grandchildren, the company said.

Mike Hickman is survived by his wife Mary Ellen; sons Noah and Russell; and three grandchildren.

In addition to Noah Hickman, H&H's owners are Ken Daniels and Jody Hickman.

The family asked that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to Riverside Christian School, General Delivery, Lost Creek, Ky. 41348.