Duane Alton

Alton’s Tires merged with Billings-based Tire-Rama Inc. in September 2008 in a deal that united two of the Northwest’s larger home-grown tire dealers. It also allowed Alton’s founder Duane Alton to retire 44 years after he began the business with a single store. He gradually built one of the Inland Northwest’s most recognized franchises while venturing in and out of conservative politics. Alton's son Matt, Alton’s vice president. will become operations manager for the Washington and Idaho stores, which will be relabeled Alton’s Tire-Rama.