Ernest Duff


Ernest Duff was an American businessman, lawyer and former bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
He was the founder of Southern Tire Mart, a large independent commercial tire dealership in North America.

Early life

Duff was born June 2, 1931, in Covington County, Mississippi, the youngest of five children of Carl M. and Lela Harvey Duff. His father was a building contractor. His parents were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Duff was educated at Columbia High School, where he was president of the student body, and earned a bachelor's degree in law from the University of Mississippi in Oxford.

Career

In 1973, Duff founded Southern Tire Mart. Duff later founded Duff Capital Investors, the second largest business in Mississippi, which owns twelve companies, with over 10,000 employees and an annual turnover of $2.2 billion.

Personal life

He was married to Bobbie Baggett Duff, and they had three sons, Thomas, Jim and Stephen, and one daughter, Jane Duff Thomley, all of who live in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
He was a former Bishop and member of the High Priest Quorum of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He died on May 27, 2016 at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg. He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia, Mississippi.