NAPLES, Fla. — Tom H. Barrett, Goodyear's chairman and CEO from 1989 to 1991, died April 15 in Naples. He was 93.
Goodyear CEO and President Mark Stewart said the longtime Goodyear employee "exemplifies what can be achieved at Goodyear. He weathered incredible challenges to fight for the company's position as a top tire manufacturer, and we're thankful for his contributions to Goodyear's history and success."
Barrett served in the U.S. Army as a lieutenant for two years teaching electronics during the Korean War.
After his Army service, he started his career at Goodyear as a tire plant trainee in 1953 and then became an engineer, rising up through the ranks for the next 40 years, relocating from Kansas to Ohio, Alabama, Massachusetts, Illinois, Luxembourg and back to Ohio.
He became president and chief operating officer in 1983 and then served as chairman, CEO and president of Goodyear from 1989 to 1991. He took the helm at a time when rival tire makers were consolidating and gaining market share.
In addition, the U.S. economy went into a slump in 1991.
"It was a challenging time, but that was the hand that was dealt," Barrett told sister publication Rubber News in an interview published in May 1998.
Goodyear had to take some write offs, resulting in red ink on the bottom line, although the company never lost money on the operating level.
Despite a short tenure, Barrett said he took many actions necessary for Goodyear's long-term benefit.
"In a very busy period of time, we did a hell of a lot of things," he said in 1998. "My driving force through all of this was that we had to be the most efficient, lowest-cost, highest-quality producer worldwide in the business. I can honestly say that we did that."
Barrett succeeded the retiring Robert Mercer as CEO; Stan Gault succeeded him.
Barrett said in the interview that Goodyear started making good amounts of money right after he left office and Gault took over.
"That didn't happen just because somebody changed offices," he said.
"Goodyear was a stronger company when I left than when I took over as chairman and CEO — by far."
After his tenure at Goodyear, Barrett was active on several boards of directors and in private equity.
Barrett is preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn Dunn Barrett, to whom he was married for 53 years, brothers Paul and Jack and sister Pauline.
He is survived by daughters Sara Ellerhorst (Jim), Susan Kelleher (Steve) and Jennifer Tenbarge (Harold); eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and siblings Bill Barrett, Bonnie Wilson, Donna Leyden, John Barrett, Carolyn Keller and Dick Barrett.