Now in his mid-90s, Jack Furrier has navigated more business cycles, met more customer needs, and created more solutions than most entrepreneurs could imagine in a lifetime. He’s become a legend in Arizona, with his face practically synonymous with Jack Furrier Tire, but his story doesn’t start with tires. It starts in Parma, Ohio, where a young Jack decided that bagging groceries for $4 a week wasn’t going to cut it. So, he bought balloons wholesale and sold them outside the then-Cleveland Indians baseball stadium. In 30 minutes, he made more than his grocery paycheck. That moment sparked a lifelong pursuit of independence.
Building Jack Furrier Tire
After serving four years in the U.S. Air Force, Jack earned his degree, returned to Tucson, and opened his first business just outside the base. He sold anything from refrigerators to used cars to real estate. Over the years, he launched brake shops, gas stations, and Desert Rat stores that specialize in off-road and performance accessories for 4×4 vehicles.
That foundation eventually grew into Jack Furrier Tire & Auto, now a respected name across Arizona with 14 tire locations, a performance parts division, and a deeply rooted family legacy.
“I had a natural desire to make a living is what I had. I wanted to make a good living for me and my family and my kids,” he says.
Legacy, Lessons, and Lasting Values
In this episode, Jack joins Johnny g to share the stories behind the storefronts, the lessons he learned along the way, and why old-school hustle still holds up in a modern world.
In this episode of Johnny g & Friends, presented by Firestone, Johnny g and Jack discuss:
- From bag boy to entrepreneur (2:38)
- Becoming a pilot (4:27)
- Starting a business on the Air Force base (6:23)
- How Jack finds profit in opportunity (18:53)
- Advice for surviving tough times as a business owner (22:57)
- Jack’s legacy (24:49)
- Jack’s best advice for today’s entrepreneur (28:10)
- What Jack’s sons are up to (31:22)
- Lightning Round (32:45)
For more episodes of Johnny g & Friends, presented by Firestone, click here.
