HOMETOWN LIVING AT I TS BEST 49
Second Blessings Thrift shop is today.
In addition to gas, Mr. Thompson
also had a light auto repair shop and
a retreading shop where he recapped
tires, which people depended on during
the war when you couldn’t get tires.”
On June 10, 1946, the two brothers
opened Moses Brothers Tire Company.
That same year, Harry married his
wife Carolyn Morris. “M.F. Brice, the
founder of Brice Bank, had given my
daddy and Uncle Joe a small loan to
help them get started,” said Rusty. “In
1954, Mr. Brice encouraged Daddy and
Uncle Joe to expand their operation
and move into his building on the
corner of 1st and Green Street. The
building was across from what is Taco
Bell today. Mr. Brice had leased a car
dealership in the other half of the
building. Since he was also a Shell gas
distributor, Mr. Brice just added a few
cents to every gallon of gas they bought
for their rent payment.”
The brothers were war heroes.
Hundreds showed up for their grand
opening. “They actually gave away a TV
for the grand prize,” said Rusty, “which
was a big deal in 1954.” In addition to
selling Shell gas, they made car repairs,
recapped tires, and became Goodyear
Tire distributors. In 1957, the brothers
split the business. “Uncle Joe took the
front shop selling new tires, and Daddy
took over the retreading shop in the
back building, He renamed his business
Georgia Tire Company. Two years
later, he bought out his brother Joe. In
1962, Harry sold the gas station to Al
Humphrey. He turned his focus to the
tire and car repair business and moved
into the former car dealership building.
By that time, Harry and his wife
Carolyn had three children: Harry, Jr.,
Russell (Rusty), and Mary Ann. From
Tire retreading could be difficult and
dangerous work. When Rusty took over
operations, he closed the retread shop to
focus on tire sales. LEFT Small, family run
businesses benefit employees in many
ways–often they become like family too.