Nashville, Tenn. (June 26, 2006) - More than a century has passed since the middle son of three boys born to Benjamin and Catherine Firestone walked across a stage and received his diploma with Ohio’s Columbiana High School class of 1887. Now, 119 years later, the man behind one of the world’s best-known companies has joined a new class—the 2006 class of inventors inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

Selling buggies in Detroit after his high school graduation, Harvey Firestone (1868-1938) had an idea that would help make the horse and buggy carriage more comfortable for customers: rubber tires. By turning this idea—and his many others that followed—into a reality, this great American inventor’s love of technology and innovative spirit helped usher America into the 20th century.

The National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation recently welcomed into its ranks a new group of inventors, individuals who break barriers, think “outside the box” and create the new. This year, in addition to its traditional class of inductees, the Foundation inducted a group of historically significant inventors who have long been deserving of recognition. Firestone was among the historical inductees and was recognized for the use of pneumatic rubber tires with automobiles.

“We are proud to see Harvey Firestone receive this honor,” commented Mark Emkes, chairman and CEO, Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT). “BFNT continues Harvey Firestone’s commitment to research and development and strives to bring a steady stream of new products incorporating the latest technology for better, safer products to our customers.”

Firestone’s innovative pneumatic tires debuted on a national scale as part of the Transcontinental Motor Trail, which is being recreated and makes a stop in Akron, Ohio, today as part of the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Interstate Highway System.

The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company was founded by Harvey Firestone in the late 19th century to supply pneumatic tires for wagons, buggies and other forms of wheeled transportation common in the era. Using his innovative genius, Firestone soon helped the company grow through key partnerships, such as the one with Henry Ford, and personal marketing style. In fact, Firestone was one of the first people in the country to own a rubber-tired racing buggy, which he competed in hotly contested street races. He used his wins to showcase the latest innovations in rubber tires. This “Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday” marketing is still used today with Firestone’s motorsports partnership.

“Starting with tires for a buggy, the company has gone from a simple idea and created high-tech tires that are taking the tire industry to the next level,” said Bill VandeWater, consumer products manager, sales engineering, BFNT. “Bridgestone Firestone has driven laps around the competition and surpasses all expectations when it comes to the industry standard. Like Harvey Firestone, the company looks at the standard and goes beyond it.”

To view photos of Harvey Firestone and his inventions, please click on the link below: http://www.firestone100.com/history/100years_fr.html

To view a video of background on Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, please click on the link below: http://www.firestone100.com/history/video_bottom_fr.html