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Goodyear Senior Vice President Mike Burns to Retire

22 October 1999

Goodyear Senior Vice President Mike Burns to Retire

    AKRON, Ohio, Oct. 22 -- Mike Burns, 57, senior vice president
of human resources and total quality culture, has announced that he will
retire Nov. 1, after more than 34 years of service with The Goodyear Tire &
Rubber Company.
    "Under Mike's leadership and the strong professional team he developed,
our human resources organization has made significant contributions to our
corporation," said Samir G. Gibara, Goodyear's chairman, president and chief
executive officer.
    "Because of his actions, Goodyear's human resources needs are being
effectively met through more flexible and better aligned systems such as
development and training programs, incentive compensation plans and the
associate planning process.
    "Goodyear is fortunate to have had the caliber of leadership provided by
Mike.  I want to wish Mike, Pat and their family continued good health and
happiness in retirement," Gibara concluded.
    An Alabama native, Burns is a graduate of Auburn University.  He began his
career in the company's Gadsden, Ala., tire plant as a management trainee.  He
held several human resource and supervisory positions in Gadsden before
transferring to Akron in 1974 as assistant to the vice president of
manufacturing.
    In 1975, Burns was appointed section manager of corporate methods and
planning for the company's North American Tire business.  He then held
manufacturing and organization development positions in Union City, Tenn., and
Gadsden from 1977 until his return to Akron in 1981, where he held corporate
leadership positions in organization development and training.  In 1993, he
was elected vice president of human resources and total quality culture and,
senior vice president in June 1999.
    "I've elected to retire at this time because it is the right thing at the
right time for my family," said Burns.  "While there are many things yet to be
accomplished in the human resources function at Goodyear, it is time for my
family to come first.  Pat and I are planning to have time to enjoy our
grandchildren.
    "Goodyear has the most loyal and dedicated associates of any company in
the world and, under Sam Gibara's leadership, has the strategy and the right
plan to be the absolute best global tire company.  I want to thank all
associates across the globe for their support and friendship and extend my
warmest best wishes as Goodyear heads into the next millennium."
    Goodyear is the world's largest tire and rubber company.  Headquartered in
Akron, Ohio, the company manufactures tires, engineered rubber products and
chemicals in more than 90 facilities in 30 countries.  It has marketing
operations in almost every country around the world.  Goodyear, with the
addition of its Dunlop tire joint ventures, employs more than 105,000 people
worldwide.