Harold Coker, the founder of Coker Tire and a nine-year participant in the Coker Tire Challenge each September, passed away Sunday morning, Nov. 16. He was 84. He was the father of Corky Coker, the owner of the Great Race. Harold and his wife of 61 years, Lill, were fixtures at the Coker Tire Challenge, as well as dozens of other automotive-related events across the country. The Challenge’s most prestigious award, the Bill Coker Spirit of the Event Award, is named for his late brother.

Although Harold never participated in the Great Race, his influence was always there: his two sons, Corky and David, participated in the Great Race, as did his brother Bob, his daughter-in-law Theresa, his grandson Cameron, his granddaughter Kelly and his grandson-in-law Greg Cunningham. Click this link to read more about Harold’s passing and to see photos from his recent induction into the Tire Industry Association’s Hall of Fame: http://blog.cokertire.com/

Click here to read the full obituary: http://www.timesfreepress.com/obituaries/2014/nov/17/harold-coker/