AKRON, Ohio — Akron was once known as the Rubber Capital of the World with numerous rubber companies operating out of the city.
One of the largest is Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, founded in 1898 and still based there today.
The Goodyear Retiree Club of Akron works to celebrate the people behind that rich history.
On Monday, the group celebrated Harold Horvath, who turns 100 on July 18.
“Time goes fast,” Horvath said. “I was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. I’ve lived in Akron all of my life.”
Akron is where Horvath raised his family and where he spent his career as a rubber worker.
“Well, I got hired in Goodyear on July 9th of 1942,” he said.
While at Goodyear, Horvath had many career accomplishments, but he said one of the most impactful things about his time with the company is the lifelong friends he made along the way.
“Well, it was during the war and everybody just seemed to live together and get along together,” he said. “Everyone went to work making goods for the war.”
His friends at the Goodyear Retiree Club threw Horvath a party he said he will never forget.
The mayor of Akron even stopped by to say a few kind words about Horvath.
“I can’t believe it,” he said. “They put this on and I can’t hardly believe it. It’s a lot of friends I’ve made over the years.”
As the guests at the party came up to greet Horvath, many of them had one question for him: “What is your secret to becoming a centenarian?”
“Well, that’s kind of a hard one to answer,” he laughed. “I don’t really know. I took care of myself I guess.”
While Horvath doesn’t know the secret to a long life, he still hopes to be around to celebrate a few more birthdays.
“I just hope I live a few more years,” he said. “I’m going to try to work on it.”
