​​​​​SMITHS TIRE SALES 


IN 2008, AFTER MANY RAPID EXPANSIONS, SMITHS TIRE SALES BUILT A NEW 6,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY IN UNIONTOWN TO ACCOMMODATE ITS GROWING NEED FOR MORE INVENTORY AND WORKSPACE.


BUSINESS WAS BOOMING IN THE MIDDLE OF A RECESSION!

IN 2005, VERNON DECIDED TO TURN OVER THE OPERATION TO HIS GRANDSON THAT HAD BEEN HELPING HIM. 


BRAD BECAME THE SECOND GENERATION OF SMITHS TIRE OWNERSHIP.

Always remember, to never, above all else, forget where it is that you came from. For, when you do,  it becomes almost a near certainty that you will also forget where it is that you are going.

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and I could say, "I used everything you gave me." - Emma Bombeck


In loving memory of our founder, Vernon Smith, most knew him as "Cornbread", but all the employees called him "Grandpa".

2/27/43-6/23/13

"THE ROOTS"

VERNON SMITH GREW UP IN AND AROUND HAZARD KENTUCKY AS JUST ABOUT EVERYONE IN SOUTHERN INDIANA DID. HE WAS ONE OF NINE CHILDREN. 

TIMES WERE DIFFERENT BACK THEN. VERNON WOULD TALK ABOUT HOW, AS A BOY, HE WOULD HAVE TO HUNT FOR THE FAMILY SO THAT THEY COULD EAT.

HE REMEMBERED GETTING A PRIZE POSSESSION THAT HE WAS SO PROUD OF THAT HE ACTUALLY CARRIED IT IN HIS POCKET FIVE DAYS... A CANDY BAR.

YOU SEE, VERNON HAD TO LEARN, AT A VERY EARLY AGE, TO BE INGINUITIVE AND HOW TO SUCCEED NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. THESE SAME QUALITIES HELPED HIM AND AMERICA TO BUILD A BUSINESS THAT STILL TODAY HELPS SO MANY PEOPLE.


IN 1994, VERNON AND AMERICA SMITH OPENED WHAT WAS THE FIRST SMITHS TIRE SALES IN THEIR SMALL TWO BAY GARAGE BY THEIR HOME. THEY HUMBLY NAMED THE SHOP "CORNBREAD'S CORNER" (VERNON'S OLD CB HANDLE WAS CORNBREAD). 


AT THE TIME, VERNON STILL WORKED AT CUMMINS ENGINE COMPANY, BUT WANTED THE TIRE STORE TO BE ADDITIONAL INCOME FOR HIS RETIREMENT.


IN 2011, A SECOND, SMALLER SHOP WAS OPENED IN SEYMOUR AT 101 E LAUREL STREET. UNIONTOWN WAS OVERCROWDED AND PEOPLE WERE PARKING ON THE HIGHWAY.

THOUGH IT IS SMALL IN SIZE, LAUREL STREET GREATLY REDUCES THE BURDEN ON THE UNIONTOWN STORE.

COMPANY HISTORY

IN NOVEMBER 2017, SMITHS TIRE PURCHASED A LARGE, 9,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY IN SEYMOUR AT 101 SOUTH STREET.

FINALLY, THERE WAS A LOCATION LARGE ENOUGH TO HOUSE THE ENTIRE OPERATION.

IN MAY OF 2018 THE UNIONTOWN STORE WAS MERGED INTO THE SEYMOUR STORE.

IT WAS BREATHTAKINGLY DIFFICULT TO SAY GOODBYE TO ALL THE LOVE AND HISTORY THAT WE LEAVE BEHIND IN UNIONTOWN .

THE NEW MERGE HAS MADE SMITHS TIRE SALES EXCEEDINGLY MORE EFFICIENT AND PRODUCTIVE SO THAT WE MAY PROVIDE THE SERVICES YOU NEED AT THE QUALITY YOU EXPECT UNTIL THE NEXT GENERATION OF SMITHS TAKES THE REIGNS.