Through innovation, a willingness to take risks and sheer hard work, Williams has established Jack Williams Tire Co. as:

• the 45th largest independent tire dealership in North America with 24 outlets;
• one of the largest tire wholesalers in the U.S., actively serving more than 1,500 accounts;
• one of the most profitable family-run companies in the tire industry.

Not content to be merely a trend-setter, Bill Williams has established himself as a market maker, successfully bringing tire industry concepts to his Pennsylvania-based marketing areas well ahead of his competitors.

These include a high performance tire and accessory store in Kingston, Pa., that has grown into one of the premier performance shops in the eastern U.S.

“There are two things I think of when I think about Bill Williams: one, his leadership skills, and the other, innovation,” says Jon Rich, president of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.’s North American division.

Williams’ leadership extends outside the tire industry to a variety of charities, including several hospitals, Wyoming Valley Alcohol and Drug Services, Inc., Volunteers of America and other organizations

He and his family also have established the Bill and Sandi Williams Family Charity Fund, which donates money to various charities. The fund is administered through the Luzerne Foundation, which is based in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Bill Williams is the Modern Tire Dealer’s 14th Tire Dealer of the Year, the highest honor that an independent tire dealer can attain. Nominees are evaluated on their business success, marketing skills, management skills, industry knowledge and community involvement.

Williams was chose by a panel of five independent judges. He will receive an etched plaque commemorating the honor, plus a framed portrait. In addition, an $8,500 donation will be made to the Bill and Sandi Williams Family Charity Fund.

Past Tire Dealer of the Year winners include tire industry giants like Paul Zurcher of Monroe, Ind-based Zurcher Tire Inc./Best-One Tire & Service (2005); Bob and Juanita Purcell of Potosi, Mo.-based Purcell Tire & Rubber Co. (2004); Larry Morgan, founder of Morgan Tire & Auto Inc. (2001); Les Schwab of Prineville, Ore.-based Les Schwab Tire Centers (2000); and others.

Modern Tire Dealer has been the tire industry’s leading publication since 1919. It is owned by Bobit Business Media, a Torrance, Calif.-based media solutions company that specializes in business-to-business publications, conferences and Web sites.

For more information, contact:
Bob Ulrich, MTD Editor
330-867-4401, ext. 15
bob.ulrich@bobit.com

Or

Stephanie Williams, Jack Williams Tire Co.
570-457-5000
swilliams@jwtire.com

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"The UltraFill 99+ System is a revolutionary advancement in nitrogen tire inflation technology,” said Ashok Mathur, business development manager at Air Products. “The system allows tire retailers to supply higher purity nitrogen ‘in the tire,’ which provides inflation performance advantages. In addition, the unit’s patent pending “Dynamic Surge Capacity” eliminates the need for large storage tanks required by other systems, saving significant workroom space and providing flexibility in locating the unit. The system is compact yet delivers the capacity of units far larger.”

Nitrogen is a nonflammable and non-corrosive gas that makes up about 78 percent of the air people breathe. It has been used for more than 20 years to inflate tires in applications where optimum performance is demanded. Air Products has developed leading edge technology for the tire industry for more than 30 years, ranging from the use of high pressure nitrogen to improve the curing of tires in production plants, to the use of cryogenic liquid nitrogen in the grinding and recycling of tire rubber.

"We are excited to feature Air Products’ UltraFill 99+ System at all of our stores,” said Bill Williams, CEO Jack Williams Tire Co., Inc. a family-run business with 24 service centers located throughout Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. “The UltraFill 99+ System allows consumers to realize the highest level of nitrogen inflation performance advantage and gives Jack Williams a competitive advantage over other retailers that offer nitrogen at a lesser purity. We are pleased to offer our customers high-purity nitrogen free-of-charge when purchasing new tires as a value added service from Jack Williams.”

According to the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), as many as 85% of motorists do not properly check their vehicles tire inflation pressure. This impacts tire life, fuel mileage and road handling. Nitrogen is a superior tire inflatant because it diffuses through tire rubber 30 to 40 percent slower than air, enabling proper tire pressure to be maintained longer and extending tire life. Industry experts say an improvement of only five percent in tire life would result in 10 million fewer tires being used each year. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that two million gallons of gasoline are lost each day due to low tire pressure. Under-inflated tires also pose a significant safety hazard, as road handling is diminished. And in cases where a tire runs flat, a spare tire inflated with nitrogen will better retain its pressure for emergency situations.

The UltraFill 99+ System is available at all 24 Jack Williams auto service centers in Pennsylvania, including the following locations:

Columbia County
Berwick - 2005 West Front Street, Berwick, Pa.

Cumberland County
Camp Hill - 3809 Trindle Road, Camp Hill, Pa.

Dauphin County
Harrisburg - 4611 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg, Pa.
Palmyra - 45 North Duke Street, Palmyra, Pa.

Lackawanna County
Dickson City - 630 Scranton/Carbondale Highway, Scranton, Pa.
Moosic - 700 Rocky Glen Road, Avoca, Pa.
Scranton - 810 Wyoming Avenue, Scranton, Pa.

Lehigh County
Allentown: Auto Addictions - 5619 Tilghman Street, Allentown, Pa.
Allentown - 3300 Lehigh Street, Allentown, Pa.
Bethlehem - 2445 Schoenersville Road, Bethlehem, Pa.
Whitehall - 2157 MacArthur Road, Whitehall Twp., Pa.

Luzerne County
Dallas - 40 Memorial Highway, Dallas, Pa.
Hazleton - 1056 N. Church Street, Hazleton, Pa.
Kingston - 135 S. Wyoming Ave., Kingston, Pa.
Wilkes-Barre - Rt. 315, Plains Township, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Monroe County
Marshall's Creek - 5087 Milford Road, East Stroudsburg, Pa.
Marshall’s Creek - Route 209 North, Marshall's Creek, Pa.
Mt. Pocono - 1009 Route 940, Mt. Pocono, Pa.
Stroudsburg - Route 611 & Terrace Drive, Stroudsburg, Pa.

Northampton County
Easton - 2481 Park Avenue, Easton, Pa.

Northumberland County
Shamokin - 902-16 North 6th Street, Shamokin, Pa.

Schuylkill County
Pottsville - 7330 Fairlane Village Mall, Pottsville, Pa.

Snyder County
Selinsgrove - Rt. 11 & 15 P.O. Box 273, Hummels Wharf, Pa.

Wayne County
Hamlin - 576 Easton Turnpike, Lake Ariel, Pa.
Honesdale - 1109 Texas Palmyra Highway, Honesdale, Pa.

About Jack Williams Tire Co.
Jack Williams Tire Co. was established in 1929 by Jack Williams, Sr. in Kingston, PA. A family business, the company is now owned and operated by Bill Williams, son of the late Jack Williams, Sr. Jack Williams has grown to include 24 Retail Locations in Northeastern and Central PA.

About Air Products
Air Products (NYSE:APD) serves customers in technology, energy, healthcare and industrial markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of products, services and solutions, providing atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials and chemical intermediates. Founded in 1940, Air Products has built leading positions in key growth markets such as semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare services, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and adhesives. The company is recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the environment and is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability and FTSE4Good Indices. The company has annual revenues of $8.1 billion, operations in over 30 countries, and more than 20,000 employees around the globe. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com.

***NOTE: This release may contain forward-looking statements. Actual results could vary materially, due to changes in current expectations.

Media Inquiries:
(Air Products)
Art George, tel: (610) 481-1340; e-mail: georgeaf@airproducts.com

(Jack Williams)
Stephanie Williams, tel: 570-457-5000 ext. 170

Investor Inquiries:
Phil Sproger, tel: (610) 481-7461; e-mail: sprogepc@airproducts.com

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