Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Acme Metals died on Friday, July 1, 2005 of causes related to cancer. Brian was born in Swansea, Wales and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Metallurgy. Upon graduation, he emigrated to Canada and joined Algoma Steel Corporation in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario as a blast furnace engineer. He worked there in progressively important positions, leaving as Vice President to join Oakbrook-based Interlake, Inc. as Vice President of its Iron and Steel Operations. In 1981, he was appointed President of the Iron and Steel Division. When the Iron and Steel Division was spun off as a separate company in 1986, he became the Chief Executive of the new company (Acme Metals) and remained so until his retirement in 1996. He led the effort to design and finance the first minigrated mill in the U.S. at Riverdale, Illinois. Throughout this career, he was a noted innovator both in technology and in Human Relations and as early as 1981, formed Labour Management Improvement Groups in the Riverdale facilities. He served 2 terms as the Management Co-chairman of the Illinois Labor Management Participation Committee. He was a lifelong member of the American Society for Metals and was very active in the American Iron and Steel Institute serving on its executive committee for 4 years. Among his numerous interests were classical music, tennis and golf and he was a longtime member of Midlothian Country Club. He maintained an interest in Industrial Archeology, serving as Director of the Illinois and Michigan Canal Corridor Association for a number of years. He retired as Vice Chairman of the Association in 2004. He is survived by his wife Eileen, who was also born in Swansea, Wales. Other survivors include 4 married sons Huw (Elizabeth), David (Melissa), Alun (Catherine) and Peter (Alice) and 10 grandchildren. A lifelong Anglican/Episcopalian, he was very active in The Church of Transfiguration, 12219 S. 86th Ave., Palos Park. A memorial service will be held there on Wednesday, July 6th at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will take place at the Palos Gaidas Funeral Home, 11208 Southwest Highway, Palos Hills on Tuesday, July 5th, from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, 12219 S. 86th Avenue, Palos Park, Illinois, 60463.
