Arthur Taubman (1901-1994)

Arthur Taubman, a self-made businessman, was born in Astoria, NY. He moved to Roanoke in 1932 to acquire three Advance Stores. When he retired as president of Advance in 1969, the company had grown to 54 stores. Later known as Advance Auto Parts, the chain expanded nationwide. Taubman was cofounder and chairman of Alliance Tire and Rubber Co., which opened in Israel in 1952 and became that country’s largest exporter. During the World War II era, he signed hundreds of affidavits of support for European Jews to enter the U.S., claiming each as his cousin. A civic leader in Roanoke, he worked for the desegregation of public facilities in the 1960s. His residence was 0.7 miles south of here.