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Tire Kingdom Names President and Chief Executive Officer

6 May 1997

Tire Kingdom Names James F. Wright President and Chief Executive Officer

    RIVIERA BEACH, Fla., May 5 -- Tire Kingdom, the nation's
fourth largest independent tire retailer, today announced the appointment of
James F. Wright to the position of president and chief executive officer.
Mr. Wright succeeds Thomas W. Garvey, Tire Kingdom's chief financial officer,
who has also served as acting president and chief executive officer since the
retirement last August of Chuck Curcio.
    Wesley W. Lang, Jr., chairman of the board of directors and managing
partner of Weiss, Peck & Greer Private Equity Partners, L.P., investors in
Tire Kingdom said, "We are extremely pleased with the addition of Jim Wright,
a seasoned automotive retailing executive with a highly successful track
record.  Under his leadership we will bring Tire Kingdom to new levels of
excellence."
    Mr. Garvey, who will resume his role of chief financial officer said,
"Jim's demonstrated leadership and innovation in automotive management,
merchandising and customer service will help Tire Kingdom to build on the
strong base it has established and to move to its next stage of growth."
    Mr. Wright joins Tire Kingdom from Western Auto Supply Co., based in
Kansas City, Missouri, where he most recently served as executive vice
president-stores.  At Western Auto Supply, Mr. Wright had responsibility for
operating more than 600 stores in the U.S. and Caribbean, with sales of
$1.2 billion and a field staff of 10,000.  While with Western Auto, Mr. Wright
opened 65 new Parts America stores and acquired over 100 additional store
sites.  In addition, he directed the conversion of 150 stores acquired from
Wheels and Nationwise to the Parts America concept.
    Prior to his nine years with Western Auto, Mr. Wright was with K-Mart
Corporation for 14 years, where he served in a variety of executive positions
and was responsible for tire, battery and auto parts product categories.
    "I am excited about joining Tire Kingdom, one of the premiere tire and
auto service retailers in this country.  I look forward to working with Tom
Garvey and the rest of the management team to capitalize on Tire Kingdom's
tremendous growth opportunities," said Mr. Wright.
    Mr. Wright is a past Chairman of the Board for the Auto Parts Accessories
Association.
    Tire Kingdom, headquartered in Riviera Beach, Florida, operates 147 tire
and auto service stores in Florida and North Carolina.

SOURCE  Tire Kingdom