September 2015 Vol. 70 No. 9
Newsline
In Memoriam
Founder Of Carylon Corporation Dies
Julius L. Hemmelstein, founder and CEO of the Carylon Corporation, passed away on July 24.
Hemmelstein began his venture in the water and wastewater industry in 1949 with a single pickup truck and a patented rodding machine. He opened National Power Rodding Corp. which was the first of many companies to come. Later, the Carylon Corporation was launched to become the parent company for National Power Rodding, and 17 other subsidiaries located nationwide.
Hemmelstein was a true visionary and, throughout the years, his companies made significant contributions to the betterment of the wastewater industry. Much of this is evidenced by the many innovative maintenance services that are used in the industry today.
Allan H. Coolsaet, 89, passed away on July 20 in Grosse Ile, MI. He was the chairman of the board at R. L. Coolsaet Construction Company.
In 1972 he served as president for the Distribution Contractors Association, and of the Pipe Line Contractors Association in 1977, later becoming an honorary member.
Coolsaet is survived by his wife, Edween; children Karen (Bill) Hollenbeck, Jeff (Mary), Janice (John) Poutier, Robert (Susan), Paula (Rick) Paul, Chris (Kathy), Margaret Coolsaet, Remi (Barb) and Amanda Coolsaet. He had 29 grandchildren and was a great-grandfather of 19.
Stewart “Nip” Kniff, 84, died July 20 in Grand Rapids, MI.
Kniff began his career when he joined the Navy in 1948. He spent a year on an aircraft carrier and also served during the Korean War. After attending Davenport College and successfully completing the Dale Carnegie Course, Kniff became the owner and operator of Sub-Surface Construction Co. in Grand Rapids, MI, there he served clients throughout the U.S. and had over 900 employees at one time. He sold the company in 1997. He also owned and operated Utility Contracting Co. in Sparta, MI, that continues to provide services throughout the state of Michigan.
Before owning his own businesses, Kniff worked as a laborer, a welder’s helper, a mainline operator and a foreman. He built gas distribution systems in over 40 communities throughout the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan.
Kniff was president of the Distribution Contractors Association in 1974, and of the Michigan Distribution Contractors Association (MDCA) 1997 and 1998. Being an active member of MDCA offered him the privilege to serve multiple times on the negotiation committee where he successfully participated in completing many agreements with the trade unions that he partnered with, in order to secure talented employees. Kniff was written about in the book, Men of Achievement in the Pipeline Industry, and selected as “Man of the Year in Michigan” in 1980.
Kniff is preceded in death by his sons Kevin and Brian. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Lenore; daughter Lynn; eight grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren; and one brother.
Tommie “Tommy” Wright, 65, passed away on July 26 in Richmond, VA, after a courageous battle with cancer. Wright recently retired from MaxLiner USA where he was instrumental in the introduction of CIPP technology to North America.
“I speak for everyone at Applied Felts and MaxLiner when I say how devastated we are to hear about Tommy’s passing,” said Gil Carroll, director of business development for MaxLiner and Applied Felts Inc. “Tommy was a tireless, dedicated employee and an even better person. Not only did Tommy play an invaluable role in establishing MaxLiner in the United States in 2000, but what many people don’t know is that he was also one of the first employees to be hired at Applied Felts’ manufacturing plant in Martinsville back in 1997. I hope we can all live up to his spirit going forward.”
Prior to his quality control work with MaxLiner and Applied Felts, Wright worked in the chemical lab at E.I. DuPont. He also served in the United States Army and was stationed in Korea.
Wright is survived by his daughter, Jaime Miller and husband Adrian; son Chad Wright and their mother Debbie Wright.
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