Bob Biffle began his McElroy career in the grind shop in early 1976. But in 1981, recognizing the value of his work ethic and people skills, company leadership shifted him into the role of a Sales and Technical Service Representative. There, he worked directly with customers and end users, operating fusion machines and teaching others how to use them along the way.
Today, Bob’s tireless efforts to support the market and promote the industry have left a lasting mark on McElroy and the world of plastic pipe fusion. Bob’s work over his nearly 33-year tenure with McElroy is seen today in the many relationships he forged, the equipment he influenced, and the countless individuals he trained to operate and service McElroy machines.
In 1973, McElroy designed and built the first Rolling 1648 fusion machine for Phillips Driscopipe. While Phillips owned the machine itself, the pipe rollers, and the truck used to transport the machine, McElroy was responsible for providing a fusion operator and for maintaining the machine.
That’s where Bob came in. For years, he traveled the United States and Canada with the machine, fusing large-diameter pipe and showcasing the reliability of plastic pipe fusion. The job meant long stretches of time away from home, but Bob took on the responsibility with the same can-do attitude he had for every other facet of his work.
One December, the contractors on a large-scale project requested a fusion technician be nearby if anything went wrong during pipe installation. Without complaint, Bob headed to the site, spending Christmas in a nearby hotel – just in case he was needed.In its early days as a small company, McElroy team members wore many hats. For sales representatives like Bob, that meant being ready to roll up their sleeves and head into the field to operate or troubleshoot a machine. That level of service was what set McElroy apart from its competitors, and Bob approached the work with gusto.
As an educator, Bob was patient, level-headed, and approachable. If a student needed more one-on-one attention to fully understand a concept, then Bob was more than ready to spend as much time as was needed with them.
Bob’s knack for training led to what his colleagues called a “Bob Biffle Dictionary,” which contained all of the terms he’d coined for explaining McElroy equipment. He had a tremendous talent for both his work in the field, with the customer, and in the classroom that paved the way for McElroy’s enduring success in North America. He was instrumental in establishing the relationship between McElroy and the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, and thanks in part to his efforts McElroy equipment is found in all UA training centers.
In 1997, McElroy debuted the TracStar® 500. While the machine was being designed and developed, the company kept as much as they could under wraps to limit the possibility of information leaks. But when the machine was released, it needed someone skilled, reliable, and personable to be the go-to source for training others to use it.
Everyone at McElroy knew that Bob was the right man for the job. He became the technical support, technical service, and technical ambassador for the TracStar machines. Thanks to his devotion to McElroy, its machines, and its customers, the TracStar today is the number-one choice on fusion jobsites around the world.
Bob’s humble, unassuming nature made him friends wherever he went. Colleagues fondly recall his love for Dairy Queen ice cream and breakfasts at Cracker Barrel, which Bob requested any time he was on the road for work. In Japan, he earned the name “Wasabi Bob” after mistaking a serving of wasabi for guacamole, taking a giant bite, and spending the next several minutes trying to drown out the heat with sake.
He had a gift for connecting with and working effectively with everyone, from company owners to fusion operators to utility executives. Much of the success McElroy sees in North America stems directly from Bob’s efforts to promote and educate others about the benefits of high-density polyethylene pipe. By the time he retired from McElroy in 2009 – just a month shy of his 33rd anniversary with the company – he had developed a reputation for being straightforward, honest, and a communicator who made everyone feel welcome, no matter their job title.
Click here to read the rest of the storyMuch like McElroy, Lee Supply comes from humble origins. Ed Lee founded his company in 1954 out of his own Pennsylvania garage, with a single truck to service the then-booming coal mining industry. By the time brothers Mike and David Lee became the company’s second-generation owners, Ed had grown Lee Supply into the region’s most-trusted mining supply company.
But Mike and David had bigger plans in mind. They set out to grow their father’s legacy, diversifying their products to include industrial, municipal, and environmental markets. That included the introduction of high-density polyethylene pipe, specialty fittings, and custom fabrications.
The brothers approached their business with a clear goal: diversification. Much like today, the mining industry is a volatile one, and the pair recognized the value in having different avenues for growth into markets like natural gas, industrial service, and oil and gas. Back then, pipe fusion was in its infancy, but the Lee brothers recognized the value of this new opportunity and partnered with Phillips Driscopipe.
Mike and David were attracted to HDPE because it aligned with their goals – to open up new avenues for growth. With HDPE, they saw opportunities to make in-roads in industries like methane, water, and natural gas while at the same time promoting the benefits of HDPE to their established connections in the mining industry.
HDPE took hold, and the rest, as they say, is history. Today, Lee Supply is a testament to the hard work of Mike and David. Their tireless enthusiasm for promoting HDPE and educating their customers in its many benefits and applications has translated into a legacy that is unmatched in their area. Through the mantle of their father’s business, the Lee brothers transformed Lee Supply into a company recognized for its commitment to quality, service, and community support. They viewed their employees as members of the Lee family as well as the company’s best asset, and in tough times they made sure to take care of those employees.
When the brothers weren’t researching new business ventures, they were hard-core sports fans. They golfed, followed Steelers football, and spent plenty of time outdoors boating and fishing. They loved traveling with friends and sharing their hobbies with not only their friends, but their Lee Supply family.
Mike and David shared with the community as well. If one of the high school football teams in the small Pennsylvanian communities they serviced needed new equipment, or the school itself needed new banners, the brothers were happy to pitch in – as long as the football team wasn’t a rival from their own high school days!
Today, Lee Supply is in its third generation, with Mike’s sons Shawn and Kevin Lee taking on the work of Mike and David. Before Mike’s passing in 2023, he and David ensured that Shawn and Kevin were prepared to write the next chapter of their company legacy – again, with a pair of brothers leading the way.
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