LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Jan. 8, 2014) – Industrial Services of America Inc., a Louisville-based company that buys, processes and markets ferrous and non-ferrous metals and other recyclable commodities, has announced the passing of its founder and largest shareholder, Harry Kletter.
Kletter was 86 years old.
Harry Kletter founded Tri-City Baling Co., the company that eventually became ISA, in the early 1950s and aggressively expanded the company into waste hauling and waste equipment manufacturing, creating a vertically-integrated waste services conglomerate. In 1969, Tri-City became the first waste services company to go public and the company’s name was changed to Industrial Services of America Inc.
Kletter became a director of ISA in 1983 and served as the company’s chairman and chief executive officer for almost 30 years. In 2012 he relinquished his chairman title to Orson Oliver and this past May resigned as chief executive officer. Although he retired from his board and management positions, Kletter continued to go into his office at ISA regularly, demonstrating his intense passion for the company he founded and built.
“We are extremely saddened by the passing of Harry Kletter,” said Oliver. “Harry was a strong, larger-than-life character who impacted the lives of everyone connected with ISA. I have enjoyed a professional and personal relationship with Harry for almost 40 years, and will always remember him as a brilliant visionary, entrepreneur and friend. ISA and its extended family will miss him.”
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