Discount Tire Founder and company Chairman Bruce Halle passed away peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, Jan. 4, the company confirmed.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that today, our friend, founder and a passionate family member, Mr. Halle, has passed away,” said Michael Zuieback, CEO at Discount Tire. “I have had the privilege of working with and learning from the most talented, respected, humble and kind leader anyone could hope for, and I speak on behalf of all who knew Bruce in that he will be dearly missed.”
Bruce Halle is survived by his wife Diane, his loving children Bruce Halle Jr. (Nikki), Susan Lyle (Wilson), Lisa Pedersen (Chris) and Michael Zuieback (Sheila); siblings Bob Halle (Nancy), Mary Ellen Merrill, Betty Lou Halle; and seven grandchildren.
At a young age, Halle knew the definition of hard work, as he helped deliver newspapers, cut grass and dug graves to help support his family during the Great Depression. Halle is a proud Marine who served in the Korean War. He opened the first Discount Tire store in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1960 with six tires and no business plan. At the time, Bruce served as the tire technician, accountant, sign painter, toilet cleaner, customer service representative and any other position needed to grow the fledgling business.
Halle established a simple business ethos: treat others how you want to be treated, always give the customer a good deal; surprise the customer with unexpected benefits like clean bathrooms, free snow tire changes or free flat repairs; build your customer base through word of mouth; and have fun. Over the years, Halle built one of the largest and most recognized tire stores in the country, but never lost sight of his early years in the bay as a tire technician.
A humble man, Halle shied away from industry recognition, preferring to give the credit for the company’s continued success to his employees and his longterm experienced leadership team, whom he considered family. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Eastern Michigan University and delivered the university’s commencement speech in 1995. A deeply spiritual man, Halle and wife Diane traveled to the Vatican and were knighted with the Order of St. Gregory for their contribution to chapel repairs. Over his lifetime, Halle amassed an unprecedented art collection of more than 400 tire-related lithographs, which are curated and on display at company headquarters. He accepted the induction into the Modern Tire Dealer Hall of Fame in 2014. Discount Tire holds the Guinness World Record for longest-running advertisement, consistently airing since 1975.
Giving back to the communities where customers and employees reside was a focal point of Halle’s leadership. He and wife, Diane, launched The Diane & Bruce Halle Foundation, a philanthropic resource for a broad range of charitable endeavors. Halle also created programs to benefit Discount Tire employees such as the Bruce T. Halle Assistance Fund, which provides financial assistance to employees in need, as well as the Bruce T. Halle Scholarship Program, which has awarded more than 2,700 scholarships for employees’ children to attend college.
Discount Tire, the world’s largest tire and wheel retailer, will surpass 1,000 stores in 34 states this year.
“His absence creates a tremendous loss for all of us, but in his honor, Discount Tire will continue on the course that Bruce has set for us,” said Gary Van Brunt, vice chairman. “The five lessons that Mr. Halle taught us will forever resonate in our hearts and minds: Be honest, work hard, have fun, be grateful and pay it forward.”
