MASSILLON, Ohio—Leland (Lee) Prentice, a long-time rubber industry veteran, died Dec. 3 at the age of 71.
Prentice graduated in 1967 from Kent State University and started his career as a teacher. He remained a long-time season ticket holder of the Kent State basketball and football teams.
He joined Sun Oil Co. in 1970 and worked as a sales manager for Sunoco, which is now HollyFrontier Lubricants and Specialty Products.
Prentice stayed with the company for 36 years, retiring in 2006. He was an active member of the ACS Rubber Division and a former president of the American Society of Lubricating Engineers.
“He was an inspirational mentor and teacher to many in the rubber industry as well as to his Sunoco colleagues,” said Patrick Gribbin, vice president of HollyFrontier Refining & Marketing.
Prentice is survived by his wife, Rita; sons Mark and Jeff; his mother Anne; sister Kathy Matheson; and two nephews.