Goodyear Honors More Than 350 Associates for Inventions, Patents

AKRON, Ohio, May 4, 2004 -- The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has recognized more than 350 of its technical associates for their inventions and innovations.

The associates, who work in the company's Technical Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, were responsible for more than 260 U.S. patents and 68 trade secrets in 2003.

In addition, 32 associates were named "Inventors of the Year" for 2003 and 12 were awarded special honors in recognition of their contributions over the course of their careers with the tiremaker.

"You are definitely our celebrities," Robert J. Keegan, Goodyear's chairman and chief executive officer, told the Akron group at a ceremony held in their honor on April 29. "I have tremendous respect for what you do."

Keegan said new innovations influence virtually all of the "Seven Reasons to Believe," the turnaround plan based on the seven drivers of Goodyear's business. "New products rebuild our brand strength, they allow us to leverage our distribution, they help us reduce our cost structure and increase our cash flow," he said.

According to Keegan, a new business model is driving today's technology organization.

Citing the technology used in accelerating the launch of the company's Assurance family of tires, Keegan said that one key to success is using speed and collaboration to get products to market faster. "This line showcases our technical abilities. But even more important it created a model for our future," Keegan said. "We have the ability in this room and in this company for those processes to become the model for how we develop new products -- and the pace at which we develop new products."

Keegan emphasized that technology is critical to Goodyear's turnaround. "We have momentum; you see that today. And I'm counting on you. All the people of Goodyear are counting on you -- not only to do your job well, but to do it even better."

  Special awards include:
  Inventors of the Year

Akron, Ohio: Kirk Cottman, Robert Pelle, Rajender Manthani, David Wismer, Aaron Puhala, Mike Crawford, Lenny Reiter, Jeremy Miracle, Marty Cohen, Sam Landers, David Poling, Robert Losey, Charlie Schmalix, Walt Allen, Chris Mantheiy, Karl Sundkvist, Benny Bexilla and Don Abbot.

Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg: Pascale de Briey, Richard Heinen, Marc Weydert, Olivio Pagliarini, Jeffry Mathews, Fernand Bode, Roland Boes, Daniel Paquay, Albiin Pochet, Bauke Schaap, Thierry Royer, John Roedseth, Wolfgang Buerling and Francis Bartholome.

Distinguished Corporate Inventor

Rene Zimmer R&D Fellow, Luxembourg, is a new recipient of the Distinguished Corporate Inventor Award. This select group now totals 42 inventors who have earned a total of 40 or more patents or trade secret awards, including a minimum of 20 issued patents and at least one patent of commercial significance to the company.

Silver Coin Awards

The Silver Coin Award is given to inventors who achieved various ingenuity milestones through their career. Zimmer will be recognized at the 40 level, while new recipients at the 20 level are: George Balogh, Michel Constant, Georges Feider, Jean-Michel Gillard, Chris Johenning, Gia-Van Nyuyen, Bill Rayman, Michel Robert, Bob Schisler, Charlie Schmalix and John Verthe.

Goodyear is the world's largest tire company. The company manufactures tires, engineered rubber products and chemicals in more than 85 facilities in 28 countries around the world. Goodyear employs approximately 88,000 people worldwide.