In the late 1980s, McElroy realized that an established presence in the United Kingdom and British gas certification, in particular was key to expanding the company’s international market. At the time, only a handful of McElroy machines were on the ground in the UK, largely for testing and fabrication work in pipe plants. Company leadership saw the opportunity for growth in Europe, but realized they needed someone local who could handle outreach in the United Kingdom and beyond.
Keith Mole was widely known in the pipe fusion market by then. He had worked for various pipeline companies after finishing school, and by the late 1990s knew many UK contractors who held McElroy equipment in high regard due to their quality and performance. In fact, he and Chip McElroy already knew each other and had attended many of the same pipeline exhibitions and events held in the UK.
In 1997, McElroy leadership approached Keith and asked him to join the company to help support and grow the business in the UK and Europe. Later, Keith would describe their decision as “a great show of faith, confidence, and trust” in him personally. Within 90 days Keith had fully taken on the mantle of managing McElroy’s presence in the UK. He welcomed the challenge of being the company’s first international employee in the UK and quickly began establishing relationships that would become key to McElroy’s European market.
Keith became a tireless advocate for McElroy, and as the company grew in the United Kingdom his service region expanded as well, eventually including Europe, Africa, the former Soviet Union, and the Middle East. For Keith, his work was more than just a job: he enjoyed the sense of being a pioneer in regions where plastic pipe fusion was uncommon. By 2015, Keith had more than 40 years of experience in the HDPE market under his belt, and that background and experience led to him becoming McElroy’s go-to person in the UK to provide service, support, and expertise. Under his leadership McElroy grew into the leading supplier of butt fusion machines in the United Kingdom – a major achievement for a “foreign” supplier.
Whether engaging with potential customers in the UK or abroad, he had a remarkable ability to connect with people. His charisma and genuine interest made others feel valued and opened the door to new opportunities. In particular, his tireless work on the TracStar® 500 line made a tremendous impact on the fusion industry as a whole – at one point, the UK boasted more TracStar 500 machines than anywhere else in the world.
Even today, Keith’s influence can be felt throughout the UK, Europe, Northern Africa, the middle East, South Africa and beyond.
Keith loved to learn about people, and his reputation for being a genuine and hospitable person gave him a unique ability to support others – both professionally and personally. He looked beyond the commercial aspects of his connections and focused on the human aspect as well. In addition to staying active in his community, Keith served on the Pipeline Industries Guild and was elected national chairman of the organization in 2007. He loved playing golf, and going on daily walks with his golden retrievers. Even after his retirement in 2019, he maintained close relationships with his extended “McElroy” family.
For nearly everyone who worked with Keith, the relationship extended far beyond the office – it became personal. And as one of the main architects of McElroy’s international presence, his legacy has become a cornerstone of McElroy’s history – thanks both to his work ethic and his talent for truly connecting with people.
Click here to read the rest of the storyAs a child of the American Depression, Jack Madore knew the importance of hard work and good financial decision-making. He began his career as a tool and die maker at General Motors in Flint, Michigan followed by a stint as an IBM staff engineer. He was relocated to Tucson, Arizona for a project and what followed was a decision that not only changed his life but also the thermoplastic pipe fusion industry.
In 1986, Jack purchased a small Tucson engineering firm called Crow Company, which supplied equipment to the mining and gas industries in the area. The business thrived under his leadership, and early in his new venture Jack learned about a new piping material called high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and realized how it could revolutionize his company.
In 1992, Crow Company became an official McElroy distributor and soon began selling and renting McElroy fusion equipment. As business grew, Jack had to decide if he was ready to go “all-in” and invest in a 36-inch McElroy fusion machine that would increase Crow Company’s fabrication and rental capabilities. He weighed the risks, realized the opportunity in front of him, and made the purchase.
With that 36-inch machine, Jack and his crew were able to start fabricating HDPE fittings. Even Jack’s wife, Mary, got involved with the business. It wasn’t unusual to see her in the fabrication shop, making fittings along with the rest of the Crow Company team.
By the mid-1990s, Crow Company was flourishing. The business had expanded its service area to include all of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Sonora Mexico, with the copper mining industry in particular driving a portion of their growth. Crow Company grew to three locations, with branches in Phoenix and Denver complementing the original Tucson location.
Jack knew the value of investing in his business. When he first purchased Crow Company, the business was housed in a small building in Tucson. With Jack’s leadership, the business expanded into a state-of-the-art facility that revolutionized HDPE fabrication in the western United States, something Jack was proud of even after his retirement.
Jack is remembered for many things, but what truly set him apart was his unwavering loyalty to those he mentored and led. He made it clear that the people who worked for him deserved the same respect he received—and he had no hesitation in standing up for them when he felt they were being treated unfairly. Jack was a tireless advocate for his team, and when he chose to step back from day-to-day operations at Crow Company in the mid-1990s, he did so with confidence, knowing the company was in capable hands.
Even after moving to Colorado and entering semi-retirement, Jack remained a trusted advisor to the people leading Crow Company. When he and Mary sold the business in 1996, he didn’t walk away—he continued to mentor, support, and stay connected. At the same time, he embraced his passions, spending his free time doing the things he loved – hunting, fishing, skiing and traveling. In Southern Colorado, he poured his energy into new ventures, developing the Navajo Peak Ranch lodge and playing a key role in launching Pine Ridge Extended Care.
Jack’s legacy lives on in the many lives he touched. He is fondly remembered for his fierce determination, invaluable mentorship, and the lasting impact he made on everyone fortunate enough to know him.
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