Thomas “Ricky” Wright, Jr.

Lifelong employee of Electric Motor Shop in Wake Forest passes away This week, EA’s thoughts are with Electric Motor Shop, of Wake Forest, N.C., as it mourns the passing of one of its keystone members: Thomas Richard “Ricky” Wright, Jr., who passed away November 4. A native of Wake Forest, Ricky graduated from Wake Forest […]

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Elsie Dickson Barks, 1923-2018

Remembering our publisher & co-founder Elsie Dickson Barks, Publisher Emeritus of Electrical Apparatus magazine and co-founder of Barks Publications, Inc., died at her home in Chicago on December 7, 2018, at the age of 95. Mrs. Barks was born November 26, 1923, in Masterton, Ohio, the daughter of Dr. Harry Ellis Dickson and Faye Pryor Dickson. She attended […]

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Obituary: Bill Swiger

Swiger Coil founder and industry fixture passes away William E. Swiger, Sr., founder of Swiger Coil Systems, Inc., passed away this week at the age of 92. Mr. Swiger, known as Bill, was the formative mind behind Swiger Coil, the Cleveland-based coil manufacturer now owned by Wabtec. Swiger—the company—has enriched the pages of Electrical Apparatus, […]

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Kopp Shop

Buffalo native, 77, brought us the surge protector When it comes to successful inventions, a recorded lineage of hits and misses exists in consumer electronics. Practicality is the name of the game; and safety can often be the genesis of that requirement. Harold P. Kopp, who passed away last month at age 77, put a […]

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A Legend Dies

Emerson’s Knight was known for ferocity and remarkable streak of earnings An executive legend of the electric motor industry passed away September 12. Charles Knight, known to many who worked with him as “Chuck”, was known for his ferocity in management and a remarkable streak of earnings for Emerson Electric. When he was named CEO […]

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In Memoriam

Remembering two professionals from our industry August “Augie” Sunnen, 96, of Chatham, Ontario, died April 25 at Meadow Park Nursing Home in Chatham. Mr. Sunnen was the proud owner of Sunnen Products Ltd., of St. Louis, also operating the Canadian division, Guspro Inc., which was established in 1932 and distributed and manufactured Sunnen honing products for over 50 […]

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Lawsuit Follows Tragedy

Did NEC violations lead to a tragic teenage death?  An electric motor repair company is being sued for claims of negligence in a tragic North Carolina death. Rachel Rosoff died on Sept. 3 in a public pool where she worked, in the Heritage Point neighborhood of Raleigh, N.C. The 17-year-old lifeguard was electrocuted and drowned that Labor Day […]

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Fatal Crash in Melbourne

Former energy efficiency CEO among four Texans killed Tragedy disrupted a pleasure trip on Tuesday when a chartered plane crashed into an Australian mall, killing all five people on board—including four notable Texans on the “trip of a lifetime.” The men were Russell Munsch, co-founder of a law firm; Glenn Garland, a retired CEO of a Texas-based […]

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