Fenton Arthur Liffick

Fenton Arthur Liffick, 97, quietly passed away at home with his family on Friday, December 8, 2023. Fenton was born on September 10, 1926. He was the third child of four children born to Ruby F. and Roy H, Liffick in Terre Haute, Indiana. Fenton served in the United States Army at the end of World War II from January 27, 1945, until he was honorably discharged on December 11, 1946. He received the Asiatic Theater Ribbon, Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Unit Award, and Army of Occupation Medal Japan. He met Dorothy (Dottie) Maddie Luedeman on a blind date in April of 1953. They were married a few short months later on June 28, 1953, and together grew their family to seven children and eight grandchildren. They enjoyed a happy and long marriage for 67 years until his beloved wife preceded him in death on October 13, 2020. Fenton was a pioneer of the SEMA Wheel and Tire Council (WTC) with more than 70 years of experience in the automotive aftermarket, including an extensive resume of spearheading various auto manufacturers and aftermarket companies, he was one of the founding members of the Wheel Industry Council (WIC), the precursor to today’s WTC. Fenton was honored as WTC Person of the Year in 2004, given service awards in 2005 and 2015, presented with the WTC Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010 for his dedication and contributions to the industry. His final recognition from SEMA was in 2020 as the Volunteer Spotlight Member. Fenton’s first exposure to the wheel industry was in the fall of 1955, when he was assigned by his employer to provide technical service in the use of finishing chemicals by Kelsey-Hayes in Michigan and its French & Hecht farm implement wheel division in Iowa. Over the following eight years, he received a thorough education in the manufacturing and finishing of steel wheels at those two companies. Fenton began his career in the aftermarket wheel industry with the design of a center anode assembly for the planting of steel wheel rims at Caltron Planting. He went on to use his background in manufacturing and finishing to help several aftermarket wheel pioneers until he was hired as general manager for Keystone Automotive in January 1967. His career led him to work with the industry leaders in aftermarket manufacturing which included Cragar Industries, Ansen Wheels, Chemplate, Superior Industries International and finally Prestige Autotech Corporation as President and CEO. Fenton holds numerous design patents for wheel covering systems, headlight protective screens, dual-size lug nuts and vehicle wheels. Fenton was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy (Dottie) Liffick, his son Bradley Liffick, his grandchildren Rebeka and James Hernandez, as well as his two sisters and brother. Fenton is survived by his children and their spouses; Jeffrey (Lorianne) Liffick, Gregory (Cheroll) Liffick, Cynthia (Luis) Hernandez, Theresa (Dean) Wight, Sheryl (Lawrence) Bourgeois, and Dee (Peter) Ferry, as well as by his grandchildren Richie Calif, Kenny Hernandez, Tyler Hernandez; Travis Wight; Madeline Bourgeois and Cristian Bourgeois. Services are being held on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at the Pioneer Church on the grounds of the Oakwood Memorial Cemetery at 10:00 am, burial to immediately follow at the Oakwood Memorial Cemetery.

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Fenton Arthur Liffick

September 10, 1926 - December 8, 2023