Our Story: Three Generationsof the Moses Family
From a small service station at the corner of Main and Church Street to one of Georgia's most respected tire dealers, our history is rooted in service, family, and an unbreakable work ethic forged in the most difficult of circumstances.
Est. 1946
Two Brothers, Two POW Camps,
One Tire Shop
In June of 1946, two brothers came home to Vidalia, Georgia. Both had left as young men. Both had been captured by enemy forces during World War II. And both came back determined to build something lasting.
Joe Moses had served with a medical unit in northwestern France before being captured in 1943. His brother Harry Moses was a B-17 bomber pilot who flew 19 combat missions between August 1943 and January 1944. Fourteen of those missions ended with bullet holes in his aircraft. On his nineteenth mission, January 29, 1944, three German fighters hit his plane and forced him to bail out over enemy territory. Harry spent the next twenty months as a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft I, near Barth, Germany.
When the war finally ended and the brothers returned to Vidalia, they pooled their savings and purchased a service station from local businessman Bragg Thompson, right at the corner of Main and Church Street. They called it Moses Brothers Service Station, and from day one they sold tires, pumped gas, repaired cars, and retreaded worn tires.
The business grew steadily through the 1950s. By 1957, the brothers agreed to divide their responsibilities: Joe would oversee tire sales, and Harry would manage the retread shop. Two years later, Harry acquired full ownership and began shaping the company around a set of principles that still guide operations today.
What Joe and Harry started in that little service station has now endured for more than eight decades, across three generations, through recessions and booms, through shifts in the tire industry, and through it all the Moses family has stayed. The corner has changed. The name has changed. The values have not.
Harry Moses, B-17 Pilot
"On January 29, 1944, three German fighters forced Harry to bail out over enemy territory. He would not return home for another twenty months."
Joe Moses, Medical Corps
Joe served with a medical unit in northwestern France. He was captured by German forces in 1943 and held as a prisoner of war until the end of the European conflict. After liberation, he returned to Vidalia ready to build a new life alongside his brother.
Our Foundation
Harry Moses's Three Principles
When Harry took full ownership in 1959, he built the business around three beliefs that have guided every Moses generation since.
"Never Leave a Woman Stranded"
If any female customer needed help, you went and helped her, no matter how far away she was. That was not a suggestion. It was the rule. This commitment to going the extra mile has defined Georgia Tire's reputation for nearly eighty years.
Treat Employees Like Family
In more than 75 years of operation, Georgia Tire has only had two employee terminations. The average employee tenure exceeds twenty years, and several team members retired after 35 or more years of service. When Harry said "family," he meant it.
Win-Win-Win
Every deal should benefit three parties: the manufacturer, the dealer, and the customer. Harry believed that if any one of those three felt shortchanged, the relationship would eventually fail. That philosophy still drives how Georgia Tire negotiates, prices, and serves.
Family Legacy
Three Generations of Leadership
Harry & Joe Moses
1946
Two brothers returned from WWII POW camps and purchased a service station, building a tire business from the ground up with nothing but grit and unshakable values.
Rusty Moses
~1972
Harry's son brought a Georgia Tech education and fresh ideas back to Vidalia, modernizing operations and pivoting to a Michelin-focused product line that elevated the business.
Morris Moses
2000
Harry's grandson joined after graduating from the University of Georgia, continuing the family tradition and now managing day-to-day operations as the company approaches its ninth decade.
Five grandsons represent a potential 4th generation
Five grandsons represent a potential 4th generation
Milestones
Eight Decades of Service
The Beginning
Joe and Harry Moses purchase a service station at Main and Church Street from Bragg Thompson, naming it Moses Brothers Service Station. They offer tire sales, gasoline, car repairs, and tire retreading.
The Beginning
Joe and Harry Moses purchase a service station at Main and Church Street from Bragg Thompson, naming it Moses Brothers Service Station. They offer tire sales, gasoline, car repairs, and tire retreading.
Expansion
Growing demand drives the business to expand its operations and capacity to serve more of the Vidalia community.
Expansion
Growing demand drives the business to expand its operations and capacity to serve more of the Vidalia community.
Partnership Evolves
The brothers divide responsibilities: Joe oversees tire sales while Harry manages the retread shop, letting each focus on his strengths.
Partnership Evolves
The brothers divide responsibilities: Joe oversees tire sales while Harry manages the retread shop, letting each focus on his strengths.
Harry Takes the Helm
Harry Moses acquires full ownership of the business, setting the course for decades of family-led growth.
Harry Takes the Helm
Harry Moses acquires full ownership of the business, setting the course for decades of family-led growth.
The Second Generation
Harry's son Rusty Moses returns from Georgia Tech and begins modernizing operations, bringing fresh energy and new business practices to the company.
The Second Generation
Harry's son Rusty Moses returns from Georgia Tech and begins modernizing operations, bringing fresh energy and new business practices to the company.
Michelin Partnership
A pivotal shift from Goodyear to a Michelin-focused product line positions Georgia Tire as a premium dealer in the region.
Michelin Partnership
A pivotal shift from Goodyear to a Michelin-focused product line positions Georgia Tire as a premium dealer in the region.
Wholesale & Military Contracts
The business enters wholesale distribution and secures military and PX contracts, expanding its reach far beyond Vidalia.
Wholesale & Military Contracts
The business enters wholesale distribution and secures military and PX contracts, expanding its reach far beyond Vidalia.
The Third Generation
Morris Moses, Harry's grandson, joins the company after graduating from the University of Georgia. The third generation of Moses family leadership begins.
The Third Generation
Morris Moses, Harry's grandson, joins the company after graduating from the University of Georgia. The third generation of Moses family leadership begins.
75 Years Strong
Georgia Tire Company celebrates 75 years of continuous family ownership and service to Vidalia and surrounding communities.
75 Years Strong
Georgia Tire Company celebrates 75 years of continuous family ownership and service to Vidalia and surrounding communities.
By the Numbers
A Track Record That Speaks
80+
Years in Business
3
Generations
6,000+
Customer Records
20+
Year Avg. Employee Tenure
2
Terminations in 75+ Years
Some customer relationships date back to 1965 and remain active today.
Giving Back
Community Commitment
For the Moses family, Vidalia is not just where the business happens. It is home. And they have spent decades making sure the community that supported them gets that support right back.
Third Thursday Thank You
Every third Thursday of the month, 100% of oil change proceeds go directly to a local charity. It is their way of saying thank you to the community that has supported three generations of the Moses family.
Man of the Year, 2016
Harry Moses was named Man of the Year in 2016, recognizing a lifetime of dedication to Vidalia and the surrounding area.
Active in the Community
The Moses family has been active participants in Habitat for Humanity, the Optimist Club, and Kiwanis, among other local organizations throughout the years.
Come See Why Families Have Trusted Georgia Tire for Three Generations
Whether you need new tires, an oil change, or just want to meet the team, we would love to see you at 209 Smith Street in Vidalia.