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."
Hischfeld leaves a legacy of projects like the US Embassy in Moscow, the National Constitution Center, CitiPlace, JP Morgan Chase Dallas, Infomart, JC Penney Headquarters, Houston Astros Stadium, Houston Texans Stadium, Pittsburgh Steelers Stadium, Soldier Field in Chicago, Pittsburgh Pirates Ballpark, LA Lakers Arena, Texas Tech Arena, St Louis Cardinals Stadium, Indianapolis Colts Stadium roof, San Francisco 49ers Stadium JV, Atlanta Braves Stadium, Texas A&M Stadium, LA Rams Stadium Bowl, the Leonard Zakim Bridge, and the Tappan Zee Bridge in New York.
Hirschfeld was a longtime member of the AISC Board of Directors. He graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in civil engineering in 1963 and, in 1998, was named a distinguished engineer at Texas Tech. He and his wife, Judith, were heavily involved in local philanthropy and in 2016 Angelo State University named the David L. Hirschfeld Department of Engineering in his honor.
"The fabrication industry lost one of its last remaining titans with the passing of David Hirschfeld," said John O’Quinn, an AISC board member who is the current president of High Steel Structures and the former president of Hirschfeld Industries. "David's larger-than-life persona propelled the visionary leader who transformed a small family-owned business in West Texas into one of our nation's most significant and influential structural and bridge fabricators. His contributions to countless iconic projects, dedication to family, and community service leave a lasting legacy."