David L. Hirschfeld, the former president of Hirschfeld Industries, died February 28 at the age of 88. Under Hirschfeld's leadership, the eponymous firm, which was acquired by W&W | AFCO Steel in 2018, grew to 16 facilities with 1,300 employees and more than 3 million sq. ft. under roof in 2002, when he retired.
"David was bigger than life--you knew when he was in the room," said Karl Frank, PE, PhD, a professor emeritus at the University of Texas at Austin and the former chief engineer at Hirschfeld Industries. "Upon returning from Texas Tech to the family business, he grew it from a small welding shop to one of the largest steel bridge fabricators in the country. When I asked how he did it, he said he bid each job bigger than the last one."
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