Irby president Michael Leech dies at 72
Former Stuart Irby Co. President Michael Doyle Leech, 72, of Franklin, Tennessee, passed away Feb. 16.
“Mike was a proud veteran and a devoted family man, qualities that shaped the way he led, served, and cared for the people around him," said Rob Taylor, president of Sonepar Americas. "Few people have embodied dedication and loyalty the way Mike did. There was never a day Mike wasn’t there for the company, and he could always be trusted to do what was right. We will miss him deeply.”
Leech served the company for 38 years, holding a wide range of roles beginning in the warehouse and learning the business from the ground up. He built relationships with fellow colleagues and customers long before he had a title in front of his name. He moved into branch operations, then into sales leadership, eventually serving as vice president of sales and, for the last four years of his career, as president of Irby. He became only the second company president outside of the Irby family, a testament to the trust, respect, and confidence so many people had in him.
He was a Sergeant First Class with 23 years of service. He was the Medical Platoon Sergeant for approximately 15 years. He was one of the youngest to make that rank. He retired after 20 years of service and then enlisted again. He truly loved all the different facets of his military career.
Leech was an avid runner, a passion that led him to be in 10 marathons including winning the Tupelo Marathon in under three hours.
INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY MAGAZINE
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