Nearly 500 customers, friends, and well-wishers attended an open house July 26 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of McAtee Tire and Service Center.
After his honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy in 1956, Dean McAtee worked in Goodyear Tire stores in Burlington, Sterling, IL, Davenport and Spencer. In 1966 he had an opportunity to purchase the Goodyear store in Jefferson. He bought the store sight-unseen and he and Lois moved their family to Jefferson. They renamed the store McAtee Tire and Service Center.
The business grew to include eight Goodyear stores across Iowa. Jefferson was the site of the most modern tire retread plant in the U.S. from the early 1970s until it burned in 1983. Dealers from Japan, Germany and numerous other countries visited Jefferson to see the retread plant and its operations.
Residents still recall the celebration of McAtee Tire’s 40th anniversary. The Goodyear blimp spent a week moored in Jefferson and flying over central Iowa. Dean called it a highlight of his career “and a way to say ‘thank you’ to the community for its support.”
The 50th anniversary didn’t feature the blimp, but food, good conversation, and a chance to shake the McAtees’ hands.
Dean received the Bell Tower of Fame Award in June. Read the June story for more information about McAtee Tire.
Dean and Lois will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary in September.
