Page 22 - Spring Summer 2023
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Aroostook County’s Hogan Tire
Sold to National Chain
By Kathleen Phalen Tomaselli,
Regional Reporter for Northeast Publishing
manager for northern Maine. “It’s running the same as
before.”
The new owners plan to keep all of Hogan’s 48
employees and all locations open, Anderson said,
adding that they would not have sold if that was not
the case.
Anderson, 63, and Bill Higgins, 70, bought the
company in 2002, and have worked at Hogan Tire for
nearly half a century.
The two had been considering selling it for the past
year or so, Anderson said.
The North Star Magazine used this photo taken from the Hogan Tire
website and the photo is accredited to Robert Reece. Like many owners of Maine’s family businesses,
We thank Mr. Reece for its use.
Anderson and Higgins were getting older, and they
HOULTON, Maine — A Maine business run by the same wanted to be sure the Houlton-based company would
family for nearly 50 years is now owned by an out-of- continue beyond them and that their 48 employees
state company. would be secure if they retired.
Hogan Tire, with locations in Houlton, Presque Isle, “This was an opportunity with a really good company,”
Caribou and Lincoln, was sold to Gill’s Point S Tires & Anderson said. “Now our employees will have jobs
Auto of Portland, Oregon, earlier this year. for the next 25 years, and they have a better benefits
package because it is a bigger company.”
In a state where nearly 80 percent of the businesses
are family owned, the sale of Hogan Tire to Oregon- Justin Hogan founded the company in 1956 and his
based Gills Point S Tire and Auto Service is the latest sons, Galen, and Cork Hogan, ran the business. Hogan
in a trend of Maine’s legacy businesses being sold Tire sells tires, heavy-duty truck parts and provides
to larger out-of-state companies. Last year Theriault auto service to Aroostook County’s five locations.
Equipment in Presque Isle was purchased by United Like Hogan Tire, the new owner Gills Point S is family
Ag and Turf. Bangor-area companies Dead River and owned. Founded in 1984, the company has locations
Getchell Brothers Ice were sold to out-of-state interests in Oregon, Idaho, Montana, New Hampshire, New
in December 2021.
York, Vermont and now Maine. Family ownership is
Hogan Tire’s previous owners, who are longtime why Anderson and Higgins decided to go with the
employees, still work for the company under the new company, Anderson said.
ownership.
“There really is no difference. Same name, same faces,”
said former owner Jody Anderson, who is now regional
22 www.houltonalumni.com
