ISCO Industries Founder & Chairman Jim Kirchdorfer Sr. Passes Away
Jim Kirchdorfer Sr., founder and chairman of ISCO Industries, a Louisville, Ky.-based pipe supplier and custom manufacturer of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) piping products, died Feb. 3.
Fifty years ago, Kirchdorfer, Sr. founded what today is ISCO Industries. He started the company in the same location as his father’s hardware store in Louisville. The company has grown over the years to include more than 25 locations with more than 300 employees worldwide.
He received numerous industry awards during his career, including the Don A. Rossi Award this year from the Golf Course Builders Association of America (GCBAA), which is presented to “an individual who has made a significant contribution to the game of golf and its growth.” In addition, he was the recipient of the Winfrey P. Bunton, II Kentucky Turfgrass Man of the Year Award in 1998 from the Kentucky Turfgrass Council and the GCBAA Perry Dye Service Award in 2006. He also received the 2008 Preservation Award from the Louisville Historical League for the restoration of the building his grandfather built on Baxter Avenue in 1902.
Also, as one of the original and founding members of the GCBAA, Kirchdorfer served as president from 1994-1996 and was instrumental in developing and establishing a professional certification program for golf course builders, a program that has gained industry credibility and prestige. Kirchdorfer also served on the first board of directors of the GCBAA Foundation, the charitable arm of the GCBAA, and was a founding member and supporter of Sticks for Kids, which provides junior golf clubs and teaching materials to golf courses, municipalities and youth organizations to enable kids from all socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds the opportunity to play golf.
Kirchdorfer was also active in Greater Louisville Inc., served on the board of First Tee of Louisville, and held many volunteer positions at St. Leonard Church and Hunting Creek County Club.
He is survived by his wife Carolyn, daughter Teresa, sons James Jr. and Mark, and seven grandchildren.