WINSTON SALEM, N.C. — Longtime tire executive Michael J. Vargo died on Nov. 25. He was 77.
Vargo, formerly of Akron, began his career in the tire industry at General Tire in the 1970s. He later joined Parrish Tire Co., leading its wholesale division from the 1980s to 2013. He also served as vice president of sales at Parrish Tire.
He formerly was part-owner of two retail stores of Parrish-McIntyre in the Akron area, as well. He moved from Ohio to North Carolina in the 1980s.
Vargo helped to develop a Turnpike commercial truck tire line, which originally was manufactured in the U.S. by General. In addition, he developed and spearheaded the growth of Tredtech, a collection of private label brands distributed globally.
According to his obituary, Vargo briefly taught high school before "discovering a passion for the tire business."
He is survived by son Jonathan Vargo; daughter Alexandra Vargo; granddaughter Willow McCaskill; siblings Diana (Robert) Taylor, Dawn (Keith) Collins, Debra (Eudulio) Solis and Mari Vargo, and brother-in-law William Breehl.
