75 years
When it comes to tires, a lot has changed in the 75 years Smith Tire Co. has been catering to the motoring public.
The Flynn family has been on hand to witness nearly all of them.
Gene Flynn and Warren Kampmeier bought the business, then located at 257 W. Main St., in 1955 from Ernie Smith, who started the business in Decatur in 1933.
Gene, who lived in Chicago, learned the business was for sale through his job at a tire manufacturing company. After getting the OK, he contacted Kampmeier, who was one of his accounts, and they made a trip to Decatur to check it out.
"He told me on the way home that we were going to buy it," Gene said. The deal was sealed Oct. 1, 1955.
The company added its 2119 E. Pershing Road location in 1965 to keep up with the growth in the business and to take advantage of the city's northward expansion. Another change in driving patterns led to the closing of the Main Street location.
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More change came in 1977 with Kampmeier's retirement. T.R. Flynn, Gene's son, had just graduated from Augustana College in Rock Island with a degree in political science. He returned to Decatur and took over Kampmeier's responsibilities, setting the stage for the business to be passed down from father to son. The switch came more than a dozen years later when T.R. assumed the title of company president.
Through all the changes, the basics of the business have remained the same: customers, products, service and leadership. Co-owned by T.R., his wife, Susie, and Gene, the company is the oldest independent tire dealer in Decatur. The current staff has more than 100 years of experience in the tire and automotive industry.
"They trust us," T.R. said of the company's longevity.
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All addresses are Decatur unless otherwise noted.
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Is your Macon County business celebrating a milestone? Let us know. Send your information by e-mail to sperry@herald-review.com, by fax to 421-7965 or by mail to Milestones, c/o Scott Perry, Box 311, Decatur, IL 62521.
