Harold Coker

Harold graduated from Tennessee Tech in 1951 (Biology) and after a career with B.F. Goodrich started Coker Tire Co. in Athens, TN. Later sold that business and moved to Chattanooga in 1961. He is a past member of Kiwanis and Lions and served 20 years on the Hamilton County Commission. He served four terms as Chairman during that time and at other times was the Finance or Economic Development Chairman. While on the County Commission he was a highway safety advocate, having just received the Liberty Bell award given by the Chattanooga Bar Association. He has championed the ridding of the blight of pornography in the community having led an effort several years ago that removed 98-99% of the X-rated shops in their community.

Mr. Coker has been involved in quite a number of issues that affect us all, but probably none more important than increasing the quality of education in his community. When he stared out, as a County Commissioner, the starting salary for teachers was approximately $14, 000 per year and it is now over $44,000 per year.

He served several years on the Board of Directors of AACA, filling most of the VP slots and was the National President in 1972. Later he served one term of the Board of Directors of HCCA. In 2006 he received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the University of TN, Chattanooga.

Harold currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Coker Tire Company, the largest supplier of tires for Collector Cars in the world.  He retired effective January 2005 from active participation in the family business, and now spends most of his time restoring automobiles, working in their Church and traveling to antique auto events.  He is married to the former Lillian Thomas and they have three children, Corky, now president of Coker Tire; David, president of Newstalgia Wheel, and Christie, Assistant Principal of Christ Presbyterian Academy in Franklin, TN, and married to Jerry Bowen.