ATHENS, Ga. — Ralph Mattox "Buddy" Snow Jr., a former executive of Oliver Tire & Rubber Co. and a member of the Tire Industry Hall of fame, died March 31 at age 83.
Mr. Snow's retreading career began in 1965 when he joined his family's business, Dixie-Cap Rubber Co. He became president of Dixie-Cap in 1969 and served in that post until Oliver acquired the company in 1979.
For the next 23 years until his retirement, Mr. Snow was vice president and counsel for Oliver.
Mr. Snow was a founder of the Tread Rubber & Tire Repair Materials Manufacturers Group (TRMG). He participated in writing the TRMG bylaws and served several times as the organization's chairman.
He also was involved in the formation of the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau (TRIB) and was its corporate secretary and a board member.
In 1992, Mr. Snow helped to form the Retread Industry-Government Advisory Council (RIGAC), assisted in writing the council's articles of incorporation and served as its corporate and TRMG delegate.
Mr. Snow held leadership positions in the International Tire and Rubber Association and in 2011 was elected to the Tire Industry Hall of Fame.
In 2003, Mr. Snow became a registered mediator for the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution, an also facilitated mediation seminars at the University of Georgia School of Law, his alma mater.
Besides his law degree, Mr. Snow held degrees from Emory University and the Small Company Management Program of the Harvard Graduate School of Business.
He is survived by Rebecca Little Snow, his wife of 59 years; a son, Ralph Mattox Snow III; a daughter, Patricia Snow Thurston; a sister, Katherine Snow Segars; and four grandchildren.