McGriff Tire founder Bert McGriff dies at age 94

CULLMAN, Ala. — Bertis (Bert) Edward McGriff, who founded and oversaw the expansion of McGriff Tire & Service, died July 11 at his home in Cullman of natural causes. He was 94.

After returning from the U.S. Armed Forces in 1942 as a Purple Heart recipient, Mr. McGriff was appointed manager in 1948 of a new Shell Oil station in Cullman. Today, McGriff Tire operates 11 predominantly commercial tire locations in Alabama and two in Tennessee, with nearly 400 employees.

The company also is one of the largest Bandag-franchised retreaders in the country.

Mr. McGriff was a charter member of Eldorado Tire Co., spent 12 years on the Hercules Tire & Rubber Co. board of directors and was a founding member of the Alabama Tire Dealers Association.

Among the tributes on his online obituary is one from former business partner Ed Johndrow, who called Mr. McGriff "the best business partner I had during my entire 38 years in the tire industry. If Mr Bert said it, you could count on it. The most honest and fair man I have ever met."

An advocate for the city of Cullman, he was a member of the "Flying 50s" group whose mission was to entice new businesses and jobs to Cullman. He was among those to found the first Cullman Shopping Center and was a founding member of the Chamber of Commerce.

According to his obituary, Mr. McGriff developed and opened Terri Pines Country Club in 1980 with an 18-hole golf course as well as Southern Pines, a residential development in Cullman.

Mr. McGriff is survived by his children Barry McGriff, Cherri Drake, Jeff McGriff and Terri Waldrop, as well as eight grandchildren. He is also survived by sisters Jean Wynn, Betty Jones, Ellen Carroll and brother Curtis McGriff.

Mr. McGriff was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Berta Mae Holmes McGriff.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to WSCC Future Foundation, Bert McGriff Endowed Scholarship Fund, PO Box 568, Hanceville, Ala. 35077 or to Desperation Church Building Fund, 510 5th ST SW, Cullman, Ala. 35055.