LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kenneth W. Towery, founder of Ken Towery's Tire & Auto Care, died March 13 at his home in Louisville at age 83.
A graduate of the University of Kentucky, Mr. Towery spent 13 years in Firestone Tire & Rubber Co.’s executive management program before setting out on his own, opening his first Ken Towery’s Tire store in 1971 in Louisville.
Over the next 41 years, he built the business steadily to 27 stores in Kentucky and southern Indiana.
In 2012 he sold the business to Monro Muffler Brake Inc. , which has kept the Ken Towery’s Tire brand active in the Louisville and Lexington metro areas, where there now are 36 stores operating under that name.
Mr. Towery served on the executive committee of the former National Tire Dealers & Retreaders Association, which is now the Tire Industry Association.
In 2003, he was a finalist for the Southern Ohio & Kentucky Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and in 2008 he was named Modern Tire Dealer's Tire Dealer of the Year. In 2007, he and his wife Joanne received the Bruce Benton Distinguished Service Award from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
He is survived by his wife Joanne; son Kris Towery; daughter Lorea Ware; stepson, Michael Plachta; and eight grandchildren. Mr. Towery's first wife, Joyce Towery, preceded him in death.
Due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, the family held a private funeral service to respect government guidelines and help reduce the risk of future outbreaks.
Expressions of sympathy in Mr. Towery’s memory may be made in the form of donations to the Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville.