2021 Tire Business Humanitarian of the Year

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The two-week sprint that culminated in another successful community event had just ended. Ron Katz was exhausted, yet still riding a philanthropic high from his continuing quest to make a difference in his little slice of Florida.

Two of his three Midas-affiliated shops — his flagship location in West Palm Beach and the other in Cocoa Beach, a little more than a rocket's length from the Kennedy Space Center — had just hosted a vaccine clinic. Floridians could stop by the shop, receive a COVID-19 vaccination along with a coupon for a free or reduced-cost oil change.

The event was both skin-breaking and ground-breaking: Florida health officials told Mr. Katz that no other business in the third most populated state in the U.S. had hosted such an event.

As he was packing up a tent, his cellphone rang.

Mr. Katz received more good news: He was the 2021 recipient of the Tire Business Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award.

An independent panel selected Mr. Katz from an impressive list of more than 20 other tire dealers as this year's winner of the prestigious Tire Business award, which recognizes an independent tire dealer or retreader in North America who during the past year has made significant contributions to the betterment of his or her community through charitable and/or public service work.

Mr. Katz's initial reaction: "Holy ****!"

The news of the honor sunk in over the next two hours as Mr. Katz drove his truck to his home near West Palm from the store in Cocoa Beach. It was only a few months earlier when Mr. Katz was named the inaugural winner of Midas' Mark Smith Award. The award was named after the 2018 Tire Business Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award winner, who operates five shops near Richmond, Va.

Just three years after Mr. Smith received the award, Mr. Katz learned he was following in the footsteps of his humanitarian mentor, the inspiration behind his charitable endeavors.

"I can't believe this was awarded to me," Mr. Katz said. "It's an elite group of people who have gotten it. To be acknowledged for the work I've given back, ..." his voice trailing off.

The committee said Mr. Katz's humanitarian activities "are far reaching beyond his local community, although he has an amazing track record in giving back locally."

The 59-year-old Mr. Katz is the 28th winner of the award and second from Florida. He received the prestigious Humanitarian Medal, engraved with his name and dealership, on Nov. 1 during the Tire Industry Association (TIA) Honors Awards luncheon at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Tire Business also will donate $2,500 to the charity of his choice: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis.

The judges selected Mr. Katz long before he had organized the vaccine clinic. It is just one example of how his Midas shop — or more specifically how Mr. Katz — helps to make the community better.

"When you give, you don't expect to get anything back. You're doing it because you're doing it out of the goodness of your heart. That's exactly how it is," he said. "When I got the phone call, I was like, 'Oh my God, I can't believe I actually won it.'

"To be acknowledged is a shock. It still is. I'm still on Cloud Nine."

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