# Bruce Halle

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American businessman (1930–2018)

Bruce T. Halle Born Bruce Thomas Halle (1930-05-27)May 27, 1930 Springfield, Massachusetts, US Died January 4, 2018(2018-01-04) (aged 87) Paradise Valley, Arizona, US Alma mater Eastern Michigan University Spouse(s) Gerry (until 1989; her death) Diane Meyers Halle (m. 1999–2018; his death) Children 4[1]

**Bruce Thomas Halle**[2][3] (May 27, 1930 – January 4, 2018) was an American businessman, and the founder and chairman of [Discount Tire](/source/Discount_Tire).[1][4] He was the wealthiest person in [Arizona](/source/Arizona), with an estimated net worth of $5.2 billion at the time of his death.[5]

## Early life and education

Bruce Halle was born on May 27, 1930, in [Springfield, Massachusetts](/source/Springfield%2C_Massachusetts)[1] as the second of seven children to Catholic parents, Frederick Joseph "Fred" Halle Sr. and his wife, Marry Elizabeth "Molly" McKelvey; both married in 1927.[6][2][7] His French-Canadian grandfather, Alfred Antoine Halle, had come to [Berlin, New Hampshire](/source/Berlin%2C_New_Hampshire), from [Quebec](/source/Quebec) in the mid-1880s with his wife and two sons.[6] As a young boy, during the Great Depression, he supported his family by delivering newspapers, cutting grass and digging graves.[8] Bruce's parents returned home with their two sons to Berlin, where they would lived with Molly's parents at a home few blocks from St. Kieran's Catholic Church.[6][9] His father became a firefighter at the Berlin Fire Department and later made deputy chief.[9] In 1942, his family moved to Detroit, where Fred worked as a security guard at the [Ford Motor Company](/source/Ford_Motor_Company)'s [Rouge River](/source/River_Rouge_(Michigan)) plant in Michigan.[9] In 1950, Bruce went to enlist in the [US Marine Corps](/source/United_States_Marine_Corps) and served a tour of duty in the [Korean War](/source/Korean_War).[7] He later settled in Michigan[10] and graduated with a [BBA](/source/Bachelor_of_Business_Administration)[7] from [Eastern Michigan University](/source/Eastern_Michigan_University) in 1956.[1][4][11]

## Career

After graduating from college, he took a series of jobs by selling cars and life insurance.[7] He tried unsuccessfully to form a partnership with his high school friend, Bill DiDonato, on an auto supply distribution company in [Ypsilanti, Michigan](/source/Ypsilanti%2C_Michigan) and by late 1959, the business went bankrupt.[7][12]

In 1960, he borrowed $400[12] and opened a tire store in [Ann Arbor, Michigan](/source/Ann_Arbor%2C_Michigan).[1] In 1964, he opened his second store and by 1970, he had seven stores in Michigan and expanded to [Arizona](/source/Arizona) that same year.[13] It later became known as [Discount Tire](/source/Discount_Tire), and grew to over 1000 stores in 28 states by 2018.[1]

As of 2014, he was the 248th richest person in the world, 87th richest in the US, and richest in Arizona, with an estimated wealth of US$6 billion.[14]

## Philanthropy

Through the Bruce T. Halle Family Foundation, he made charitable donations to the [Diane Halle Center for Family Justice](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Diane_Halle_Center_for_Family_Justice&action=edit&redlink=1) at [Arizona State University](/source/Arizona_State_University) and to the [Children First Academy](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Children_First_Academy&action=edit&redlink=1), the nation's largest school for homeless children.[1] He made donations to the [American Heart Association](/source/American_Heart_Association), the [American Cancer Society](/source/American_Cancer_Society), the [American Liver Foundation](/source/American_Liver_Foundation), the [American Red Cross](/source/American_Red_Cross), the [National Multiple Sclerosis Society](/source/National_Multiple_Sclerosis_Society), [Childhelp](/source/Childhelp), the [Juvenile Diabetes Foundation](/source/Juvenile_Diabetes_Foundation), and the [Muscular Dystrophy Association](/source/Muscular_Dystrophy_Association).[4]

In Arizona, he supported the [Arizona Boys and Girls Clubs](/source/Boys_%26_Girls_Clubs_of_America), the [Arizona Opera League](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arizona_Opera_League&action=edit&redlink=1), the [Phoenix Symphony](/source/Phoenix_Symphony), the [Scottsdale Symphony](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Scottsdale_Symphony&action=edit&redlink=1), the [Crisis Nursery](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Crisis_Nursery&action=edit&redlink=1), the [Arizona Kidney Foundation](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arizona_Kidney_Foundation&action=edit&redlink=1), and the [Phoenix Children's Hospital](/source/Phoenix_Children's_Hospital). He was the first to pledge charter membership of the [Children's Urban Survival Program](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Children%27s_Urban_Survival_Program&action=edit&redlink=1) in [Phoenix](/source/Phoenix%2C_Arizona).[4] The [Bruce T. Halle Library](/source/Bruce_T._Halle_Library) on his alma mater's campus is named for him,[15] and the Diane M. Halle Library on [Endicott College](/source/Endicott_College)'s campus is named after his second wife.[16]

He had a collection of 400 [lithographs](/source/Lithograph) from the earliest days of tire advertisements.[1][17] The Diane and Bruce Halle Collection is a private collection of 20th- and 21st-century art from Latin America based in [Scottsdale, Arizona](/source/Scottsdale%2C_Arizona).[18]

## Political activities

In 2016 at the direction of Halle, Discount Tire stores in Maricopa County posted "Re-Elect Sheriff Joe Arpaio" signs in their windows.[19]

Halle was also a supporter of the Tea Party movement throughout the Obama Presidency, including his financial support for the "Tea Party Patriots Citizen Fund" and "Tea Party Leadership Fund".[20] He was a financial supporter of the National Association for Gun Rights,[21] an organization self-described as "Accepting 'NO COMPROMISE' on the issue of gun control."[22]

In 2016, he donated $1 million to Arizonans for Responsible Drug Policy in an effort to stop [cannabis](/source/Cannabis) legalization in Arizona.[23]

## Personal life

Halle married his childhood sweetheart, Geraldine "Gerry" Konfara Halle,[24] in the late 1940s,[9] and she died in 1989 from cancer.[25][26] According to his biographer, Gerry's death was a "huge, huge blow" to him.[26] Bruce Halle's children were all born with his first wife Gerry. They had 3 children, Bruce Jr., Susan, and Lisa Pedersen.[27][26]

Halle married his second wife, Diane Meyers Halle (née Cummings),[28] ten years later in 1999. Diane was a widow of another Arizona millionaire. They lived in [Paradise Valley, Arizona](/source/Paradise_Valley%2C_Arizona).[1][29]

Halle died on January 4, 2018, at the age of 87.[30][28][27][10] He was survived by three children, his wife, a brother, and two sisters.[31]

## See also

- [Arizona portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Arizona)
- [Companies portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Companies)

- [TBC Corporation](/source/TBC_Corporation)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-forbes_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-forbes_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-forbes_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-forbes_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-forbes_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-forbes_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-forbes_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-forbes_1-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-forbes_1-8) ["Forbes profile: Bruce Halle"](https://www.forbes.com/profile/bruce-halle/). *Forbes*. Retrieved 5 January 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-MTD_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-MTD_2-1) ["MTD Tire Dealer of the Year profile"](https://www.moderntiredealer.com/tiredealeroftheyear/winner/2014/dealerprofile). Modern Tire Dealer.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Bruce Thomas Halle"](https://www.wealthx.com/dossier/bruce-thomas-halle/). Wealth-X.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-eastern_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-eastern_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-eastern_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-eastern_4-3) ["Halle Library – Eastern Michigan University"](http://www.emich.edu/library/about/halle.php). *www.emich.edu*. Retrieved 5 January 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Forbes_20180104_5-0)** Au-Yeung, Angel (4 January 2018). ["Richest Person In Arizona Dies at Age 87"](https://www.forbes.com/sites/angelauyeung/2018/01/04/discount-tire-founder-billionaire-bruce-halle-dies-at-age-87/#77b54972d788). *Forbes*. Retrieved 5 January 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-MR_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-MR_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-MR_6-2) Rosenbaum, Michael. ["Six Tires, No Plan: The Impossible Journey of the Most Inspirational Leader That (Almost) Nobody Knows"](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/six-tires-no-plan-michael-rosenbaum/1104136273). Barnes & Noble. Retrieved 6 February 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-B_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-B_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-B_7-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-B_7-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-B_7-4) ["Bruce Halle"](https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/bruce-t-halle/). *Bloomberg.com*. Bloomberg.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Confirms Passing of Founder and Chairman, Bruce Halle"](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/discount-tire-confirms-passing-of-founder-and-chairman-bruce-halle-300577990.html). Cision PR Newswire. 4 January 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-BA_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-BA_9-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-BA_9-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-BA_9-3) ["Bruce T. Halle"](https://horatioalger.org/members/member-detail/?id=003j000000ibsbOAAQ). Horatio Alger.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-TB_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-TB_10-1) ["Discount Tire Founder Bruce Halle dies at age 87"](http://www.tirebusiness.com/article/20180104/NEWS/180109975/discount-tire-founder-bruce-halle-dies-at-age-87). Tire Business. 5 January 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Bruce Halle, wealthiest man in Arizona, has passed away"](http://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/arizona-news/bruce-halle-reportedly-passed-away/). Fox 10 Phoenix News. 4 January 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-E_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-E_12-1) ["Discount Tire Company Inc"](http://www.encyclopedia.com/books/politics-and-business-magazines/discount-tire-company-inc). Encyclopedia.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Berry, Walter (4 January 2018). ["Billionaire founder of Discount Tire dies"](https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/billionaire-founder-of-discount-tire-dies/). Las Vegas Review-Journal.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-list_14-0)** ["Forbes 400 2017"](https://www.forbes.com/forbes-400/). *Forbes*. Retrieved 5 January 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Who is Bruce T. Halle?"](https://www.emich.edu/library/about/halle.php).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Halle Library at Endicott College"](https://www.endicott.edu/academics/academic-resources-support/halle-library).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Edwin Lurgy, 'Bruce Halle On His Passion For Antique Tire Art', in *Forbes*, Sep 22, 2011 [\[1\]](https://www.forbes.com/sites/edwindurgy/2011/09/22/bruce-halle-on-his-passion-for-antique-tire-art/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Beverly Adams"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120409124225/http://www.aifestival.org/speaker/beverly-adams). *Aspen Ideas Festival*. Archived from [the original](http://www.aifestival.org/speaker/beverly-adams) on 9 April 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** "Discount Tire faces boycott for [Joe Arpaio](/source/Joe_Arpaio) signs". KPNX. Retrieved 2018-01-09.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Bruce Halle – $29,350 in Political Contributions for 2014"](https://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/bruce-halle.asp?cycle=14). *www.campaignmoney.com*. Retrieved 8 May 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Bruce Halle – $62,350 in Political Contributions for 2012"](https://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/bruce-halle.asp?cycle=12). *www.campaignmoney.com*. Retrieved 8 May 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["About NAGR"](https://www.nationalgunrights.org/about-nagr). National Association for Gun Rights.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** Stern, Ray (17 October 2016). ["Discount Tire Boycott Movement Grows as Owner Donates $1M to Keep Marijuana a Felony"](http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/discount-tire-boycott-movement-grows-as-owner-donates-1m-to-keep-marijuana-a-felony-8746517). *Phoenix New Times*. Retrieved 18 October 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["Bruce T. Halle"](https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/azcentral/obituary.aspx?n=bruce-t-halle&pid=187803133). Legacy.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["A Brief Biography"](http://sixtiresnoplan.com/all-about-bruce/). Six Tires, No Plan.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Rosenbaum2012_26-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Rosenbaum2012_26-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Rosenbaum2012_26-2) Michael Rosenbaum (2012). [*Six Tires, No Plan*](https://books.google.com/books?id=20M9hc5mGPIC&pg=PA115). Greenleaf Book Group. p. 115. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781608322589](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781608322589). Retrieved 7 January 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-AZ_27-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-AZ_27-1) ["Founder of Discount Tire, Bruce T. Halle, dies at age 87"](http://www.azfamily.com/story/37194967/founder-of-discount-tire-bruce-t-halle-dies-at-age-87). azfamily.com. 5 January 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-T_28-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-T_28-1) ["Bruce Halle, richest person in Arizona, dies"](https://tucson.com/news/bruce-halle-richest-person-in-arizona-dies/article_88bbdd1e-f1d5-11e7-a30a-cbd7bbbfadcb.html). Tucson com. 5 January 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-29)** Dawson Fearnow, 'Valley's Richest Revealed', in *[Desert Living Today](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Desert_Living_Today&action=edit&redlink=1)*, March 10, 2011 [\[2\]](http://www.desertlivingtoday.com/2011/03/10/valleys-richest-revealed/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110514185417/http://www.desertlivingtoday.com/2011/03/10/valleys-richest-revealed/) 2011-05-14 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-30)** ["Bruce Halle, Discount Tire founder and Arizona's richest man, dies at 87"](https://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/entrepreneurs/2018/01/04/bruce-halle-discount-tire-founder-obit-arizona-richest-man-dies-age-87/1004974001/). Retrieved 5 January 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-nyt-died_31-0)** [AP](/source/Associated_Press) (January 5, 2018). ["Bruce Halle, Founder of Discount Tire, Is Dead at 87"](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/05/obituaries/bruce-halle-founder-of-discount-tire-is-dead-at-87.html). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bruce Halle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Halle) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Halle?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.