Donald
"Don" Crader, 81, CEO of Crader Distributing Co. in Marble Hill, Mo., and
its sister organization, Blue Mountain Equipment in McKinney, Texas, died
Sunday at Southeast Hospital. He was 81.
Crader
Distributing Co. was founded in 1944 by Buford Crader, Don Crader's father, and
two partners, according to the company's website. It is the exclusive
distributor of STIHL outdoor power equipment in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and
Southern Illinois.
The
company has done business with many family-owned dealers for about 50 years.
Jim
Riley, founder of Red Letter Communications, said in an email to the Southeast
Missourian that about 25 years ago, Don and his son Stan Crader gave him one of
his first business opportunities, introducing Red Letter Communications to
STIHL.
"We've
been business associates and friends ever since," he said.
What
started with the sale of a few chain saws out of Don Crader's trunk was built
into "one of the largest STIHL sales and distribution organizations in the
world," but Don measured success by his family, along with his
relationships with his employees and the community, Riley said.
Crader
was a member of The Gideons International, a supporter of the Southeast
Missouri University Foundation and a member of the Harmony Congregational
Methodist Church.
Through
his business, Crader was able to support and foster success with thousands of
small businesses, Riley said, and he always will remember Crader as a gentleman
of unwavering integrity.
"While
he built a significant enterprise, I think he measured success in life by what
he gave and plowed back into helping others," Riley said. "He was a
man of faith, and viewed his life as an incredible blessing and privilege -- he
loved his country, he loved the land and people. Most of all he loved his
family. I was blessed to know him."
Amity Shedd Southeast Missourian http://www.semissourian.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment