Don De Lue

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Harvey S. Firestone, facing. To left and right, HARVEY S. / FIRESTONE - FOUNDER

The reverse bears ten scenes relating to Firestone's business arrayed around center field, from rubber tapping at top, to various vehicles, chemical reaction vessels, to airplane.  In centerfield, 50 YEARS / OF / FIRESTONE / SERVICE / 1900 - 1950

Harvey S. Firestone (1868-1938) was an American businessman, and the founder of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, one of the first global makers of automobile tires.

After graduating from Columbiana High School, Firestone worked for the Columbus Buggy Company in Columbus, Ohio before starting his own company in 1890, making rubber tires for carriages. In 1900 he soon saw the huge potential for marketing tires for automobiles and then founded the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, a pioneer in the mass production of tires.

Dick Johnson reports that the medal's obverse was designed by Jeno Juszko but the reverse was designed by Don de Lue! Based on the reverse's subject matter and the style I would have guessed Rene Chambellan, but never Don de Lue.

The medal's edge is drilled at top and bottom so that it can be installed in a spinner, which was a popular display style for industrial commemoratives in the middle of the 20th century.

The circular medal measures 69.4mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York.  No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1950-016

The medal's obverse bears bust of John Adams, slight left, over quill and signature, thirteen stars around. Around edge, THE HALL OF FAME FOR GREAT AMERICANS AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY / 19©71 1735 - 1826

The reverse bears muscular nude male and female figures, female as if falling, male with sword from which a pierced medusa mask dangles; stars and stylized sun over horizon. Around, PRINCIPAL - RIGHT - ABOVE - EVIL; signed at 2:00, DeLUE Sc.

John Adams (1735-1826) was the second President of the United States. He was a lawyer, diplomat, statesman, political theorist, and, as a Founding Father, a leader of the movement for American independence from Great Britain. He was also a dedicated diarist and correspondent, particularly with his wife and closest advisor Abigail.

This medal is the 77th issue of the Hall of Fame for Great Americans at New York University medal series.

The medal was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York.  The bronze variants exist in large 76.1mm and small 44mm diameters, the silver variant only in the small diameter. No mintages are reported.

References:   GANYU 77, MACo 1963-001-077

References:   BG 6