Harold Coker and son Corky.
If you have modern whitewalls or other collector tires or wheels on your vehicle, odds are they came from Coker Tires. The company is a fixture in the hot rod, collector, and performance industry and everyone knows the sound of Corky Coker’s voice and the vision of his mustache from across the room. It’s a company known for its warmth and sense of joy in the industry, and much of that feeling came from founder Harold Coker, who helmed the company and the family who still runs it.
Born in North Carolina, Harold graduated from Tennessee Tech in 1951 with a BS in Chemistry. He started his career with B.F. Goodrich, and then later began the Coker Tire Company in Athens, Tennessee with the help of his parents who sold their house to lend him money to start the business. He soon moved the endeavor to Chattanooga, and rapidly became the largest supplier of collector car tires and wheels. And while Coker Tire is a fixture in the industry, Harold Coker was equally a fixture in his family and community.
He served as a county commissioner, served on the board of directors of Chattanooga’s Electric Power Board, and helped to develop Enterprise South. He was an active member of his church, Woodland Park Baptist, ran for congress, and received the Spirit of ’76 award as an active member of the Chattanooga Freedom’s Foundation.
His passion for automobiles continued throughout his life, exhibited through his collection of classic cars. He also remained Chairman of the Board Emeritus of Coker Tires, and was elected president of the National Tire Dealers and Re-Treaders Association in 1985.
He passed away this past weekend at the age of 84. He is survived by his wife Lillian, brother Bob, children Corky, David and Christine, and seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Our thoughts go out to his family, friends and community.
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