USA: TIA’s Littlefield joins Tire Industry Hall of Fame

Roy Littlefield, who is soon to retire as chief executive officer and executive vice-president of the Tire Industry Association (TIA) after 18 years in the job and 42 years with the association and its predecessors, is one of two fresh inductees into the Tire Industry Hall of Fame. The Tire Industry Hall of Fame Committee has selected Littlefield together with the late Martin J. Barry, a former president of the National Tire Dealers Association. Barry will enter the Hall in the historic category.

The Hall of Fame Award is considered the US tyre industry’s highest honour. It recognises individuals who have contributed greatly to the growth and development of the tyre industry or have demonstrated high standards, ideals and leadership in the management of their businesses and in the tyre community and have achieved goals and success that distinguish them from others.

In addition to recognising Littlefield and Barry’s achievements, the committee also named Monte Niemi, chief executive officer of First State Tire Recycling as the winner of the Tire Industry Association’s (TIA) 2021 Ed Wagner Leadership Award and selected Miles D. Moore, retired senior Washington reporter for trade publications Rubber & Plastics News and Tire Business, as the recipient of the Friend of the Industry Award.

“We are pleased to honour these exceptional individuals entering the Tire Industry Hall of Fame and receiving the Ed Wagner Leadership and Friend of the Industry awards,” said Mason Hess, incoming TIA president. “On behalf of the Association, we extend our congratulations and are honoured to recognise these amazing individuals who have proven themselves as key industry influencers.”

Littlefield: stability & growth

Roy Littlefield III joined the former National Tire Dealers & Retreaders Association (NTDRA) in 1979 as director of government affairs. He held that same position at the American Retreaders Association (ARA)/International Tire & Rubber Association (ITRA) from 1984 to 2000. From 2000 to 2002, he served as director of government affairs for the Tire Association of North America (TANA) and was named TIA’s top executive in 2003. He has the second-longest tenure as CEO/executive vice president in the Association’s 101-year history.

“As chief executive officer, Littlefield stabilised and grew the association. Membership stands at an all-time high of more than 13,000, from 2,700 when he took over, and the association’s finances are the strongest in its history,” comments TIA.

Barry: a pivotal role

Induction into the Hall of Fame comes more than 65 years after Martin J. Barry passed away. Barry entered the tyre industry in 1918 and served three terms of presidency at the National Tire Dealers Association, as it was then known, and is one of only three ‘three-termers’. TIA states that Barry “played a pivotal role in helping the organisation survive and evolve in its early years, guiding it through two evolutionary name changes, the Great Depression and World War II.”

TIA will recognise the honourees at the Tire Industry Honors Awards Luncheon in Las Vegas on Monday 1 November 2021, prior to the start of the Global Tire Expo/SEMA Show.