Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
NACHTMAN, Harold J.
NACHTMAN, Harold J. (Dyersville, IA--Dubuque, IA, June 18, 1984). A distributor of Firestone products in Dubuque beginning in 1926, Nachtman remembered a time when there were about two different tires for passenger cars and two tires for trucks. The company he started grew to become the second or third largest Firestone dealer in the Midwest. His devotion to that company was rewarded with a diamond-studded service pin presented to him by Firestone President Robert D. Thomas. (1)
Nachtman compiled one of the longest records of service on the board of the DUBUQUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. First elected to the board in 1937, he was re-elected in 1940, 1943, through 1951 and served three times as president. In 1946 he was vice president of the Iowa Association of School Boards and was elected president the next year. (2) In 1951 he was elected the board's vice-president. (3) He finally decided to end his service after five terms in 1952. (4)
In 1938 during his presidency on the board, Dubuque received federal funds that made possible the construction of four new schools: BRYANT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, FULTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, and MARSHALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. The bond issue of $420,000 was paid off in 1949. (5)
Nachtman retired from the tire business in 1974. He remembered during WORLD WAR II doubling his business when tire shortages led to rationing. He had his own tire brokerage arrangements with other tire dealers through the Midwest. His success drew letters of admiration from Firestone's chairman of the board. After the war, his big challenge was convincing farmers to switch from steel wheels to rubber tires. Another favorite memory was the sale of the first snow tires in 1956. "Bluff Street was plugged with cars trying to get service." (6)
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Source:
1. "Harold J. Nachtman, Alias 'Mr. Firestone,'" Telegraph Herald, May 23, 1971, p. 15
2. "Nachtman Ends Long Service on Board, Higley Also Retires," Telegraph-Herald, March 18, 1952, p. 2
3. "School Board Elects Higley," Telegraph Herald, March 20, 1951, p. 18
4. "Nachtman Ends..."
5. "10 Year School Debt Paid," Telegraph-Herald, November 15, 1949, p. 10
6. McCormick, John, "He Made It When It Was Tough," Telegraph Herald, March 10, 1974, p. 15