Andrew Firestone visited with Dyersburg plant executives and Dyer County representatives on Thursday. [Click to enlarge]

Over the last few years, Andrew Firestone has been wanting to learn more about his family's business.

Already involved in the vineyards his father, mother and grandfather began, he's been familiarizing himself with the company his great-grandfather Harvey Firestone started in 1900 by visiting the many companies and divisions of Bridgestone Americas Holding Inc.

Those visits brought "The Bachelor" to Dyersburg on Thursday to not only see the behind the scenes workings of the Firestone Industrial Products Co. plant but to also congratulate its employees for receiving the Governor's Award of Excellence for going over 400,00 man hours without a lost time accident.

Accomplishing such a safety record, Firestone said, "speaks volumes, not only of the employees but for management setting an example. It shows people care about what they're doing. This day and age, that goes by the way. Anytime you're recognized by [an outside source] it's great. But when you're received well by the community, it speaks volumes. This plant employs a workforce of 140 who take pride in the work they do and that's the best thing ... but awards are great too."

Firestone Industrial Products Co. has been in Dyersburg since October 1989. The company makes metal components for air ride suspension parts and builds and cures rubber air springs for industrial- and light-duty cars and trucks. It is a division of Bridgestone/Firestone Diversified Products LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Holding Inc. One of the company's smaller facilities, Dyersburg "does something very specialized," Firestone said. "I'm excited to hear of its growth. More equipment will be here next year so it's definitely doing well and doing great."

Firestone said his great-grandfather started the company for the sole purpose of finding a better steel-rimmed tire.

"Over 100 years later, here we are. The company has grown and diversified," to also include air springs, building materials, synthetic and natural rubber and industrial fibers and textiles.

In 1988, the Bridgestone Corporation of Japan purchased the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company after Firestone began looking for an international company to help it compete more effectively on the global scale. Shojiro Ishibashi (Ishibashi means "stone bridge") founded the Bridgestone Tire Company, Ltd., in 1931. Bridgestone Americas Holding Inc., an international manufacturer, is a Nashville-based company that was formed in 1990 when Bridgestone U.S.A. merged with The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company.

"Firestone and Bridgestone have interesting histories that mirror each other," Firestone noted.

Today, Firestone has nine tire plants in the United States and 39 diversified products plants.

"It's a big company. You see that big emblazoned [symbol] in a lot of communities and I'm happy to see that, especially in times like these," he said. "I'm trying to educate myself, not only in sales but the factory side by poking my head in plants from North Carolina to Japan."

Through those visits, Firestone is learning not only what those plants make but also what they do for their communities.

"Firestone prides itself in participating in the community. A vital part of Bridgestone/Firestone is giving back. It's what we're supposed to do," said Firestone, who has spent much of the week at Fan Fair in Nashville where the company did a fund-raiser for cystic fibrosis.

"Hopefully, Firestone is a good neighbor to this community," he told the city and county officials present.

Those representatives assured Firestone that the Dyersburg facility is, giving their accolades and thanks for its generosity to numerous local charities, assistance with city and county programs and its working with other local industries in bettering the local workforce.

"Those are the greatest compliments we can receive," Firestone said. "By being pro-active in the community and participating, the employees see the company is taking an interest in the community where they spend the other 12 hours of their day."

That attitude, he added, provides employees pride in their work.

"Something you don't hear every day is that someone has stayed with a company for 49 years," he said, noting it's something he's heard a lot in the last couple of years as he's toured Firestone plants around the world.

Firestone's visit kicked off a two-week celebration for the Dyersburg plant.

It will culminate on June 23 with the presentation of the Governor's Award of Excellence.

The award is based on the size of the company, the number of hours involved and if it is free of any accident that required any time away from the job or restricted duty. It took the plant 22 months to accomplish the 400,000 man hours without a lost time accident.

"We've been really safe," said Mike Kroeger, the Dyersburg plant manager. "We're really fortunate-we've had lots of growth, we've been safe, we've got some real good employees."

Firestone's visit is the first from a member of the family.

"Somebody volunteered the information that he could be available, then that fell through, then we got another call saying he could come and that he wanted to see this facility," Kroeger said as Firestone signed autographs and posed for pictures with employees and their families. "It's very exciting [to have him here]. I'm really impressed [with him]. He's a very approachable. [Following a tour of the facility,] he seemed to be really impressed with the community and what we're doing here."

As for the other topic associated with Andrew Firestone, it was Dyersburg Police Chief Bobby Williamson who broached the subject.

"I know these ladies are wanting to ask you about 'The Bachelor,'" he said, as the room broke into laughter.

Firestone was the third "Bachelor" on the ABC reality series in 2003.

"Coming from a family like Firestone, I was used to the attention because that's part of it," he said, but "you have to take that individual attention very carefully."

Especially when your face is plastered on every magazine around the world. He laughingly noted that when he wears his sunglasses inside, his sister, two older brothers and his mother put him back in his place. But that "Bachelor" opportunity has been very helpful.

"Over the last couple of years, [the celebrity brought by 'The Bachelor' has] allowed me to do a lot of interesting things and I'm very grateful for that," he said. "Thank you for welcoming us to Dyersburg."