[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 53 (Tuesday, April 12, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E701]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING COKER TIRE

                                 ______
                                 

                 HON. CHARLES J. ``CHUCK'' FLEISCHMANN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 12, 2011

  Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an outstanding 
husband, wife, and son team who run a vibrant small business right in 
my hometown of Chattanooga, TN. From a humble beginning in 1958 Harold, 
Lil, and their son Corky Coker have developed Coker Tire into a model 
small business and another great success story in the revival of the 
city of Chattanooga.
  Coker Tire was founded in 1958 in Chattanooga by Harold and Lil 
Coker. From the beginning, Coker Tire was no ordinary tire store. 
Harold's interest in classic cars led him to create a shop that could 
supply tires for vintage and antique cars as well as normal tires for 
everyday vehicles. No one, least of all Harold and Lil, had any idea 
how the market for vintage car tires would play out over time.
  In 1974, Harold and Lil's son Corky was given control of the antique 
division of the business. At the time, the antique division occupied 
just 500 square feet of space and was only a small part of the 
business. Corky worked hard to aggressively expand his business, 
traveling the world to find molds for antique tires, and using old 
blueprints to create tire molds that he couldn't find. He then built 
these tires to modern standards and partnered with some of the world's 
largest tire manufacturers to license and distribute his products.
  As Coker Tire developed over the years, they have gone from a small 
showroom with one employee, to a 200,000 square foot warehouse, 
numerous buildings in Chattanooga, and over 80 employees. Corky's 
accomplishments have not gone unnoticed. In 1995 he was named Small 
Business Person of the Year for the State of Tennessee, and in 1998 the 
Specialty Equipment Market Association inducted him into their Hall of 
Fame. I hope you will all join me in honoring a remarkable American 
small-business success story and congratulating the Coker family on the 
53rd Anniversary of their fine business.

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