Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/89769
WORLD FENCE NEWS • NOVEMBER 2012 • 35 After lifetime in the fence industry, Disborough says "it's time to throw the keys up in the air and walk away to let others carry the ball" Steve Disborough, who made a career in the fence industry and served with Allied Tube and Conduit for 26 years, has retired as of Oct. 1, 2012. Known as "Diz," Disborough sub- contracted for Sears and Roebuck while in high school in 1964, and then, after a stint in the U.S. Navy, worked for Chrysler Corp. for one year. He again subcon- tracted for Sears for a Steve "Diz" Disborough summer in 1970 before going to Hoosier Fence Co. in Indianapolis for 16 years. During his time at Hoosier Fence Co., he installed residential, commercial/industrial, high security, and barbed tape projects. After graduating from construc- tion at Hoosier, he did residential and commercial sales, and then advanced to crew-yard-shop superintendent and purchasing. In 1986, he departed Hoosier after serving as sales and advertising man- ager for the fence division. ASTM International rec- ognized Disborough's life-long involvement in the standards community with this plaque. Disborough then served for 26 years with Allied Tube and Conduit, through change of owner- ships starting with independently owned Allied Tube and Conduit, then Atkore, Grinnell, and Tyco, followed by Atkore International. While with Allied Tube and Con- duit, he started in sales, then market- ing and technical, and retired from Allied as technical coordinator. He was a respected member of the specifications community, and was a member of ASTM International Com- mitte F14 on Fences, Committee F33 on Detention and Correctional Facili- ties, and Committee E54 on Homeland Security Applications. "It has been a fun ride and I have enjoyed being in the industry," Dis- borough said. "It is time, however, to throw the keys up in the air and walk away to let others carry the ball." Disborough recently took time out to look back on some significant in- dustry developments that occurred during his career. Here are some of his reflections: • Development of specifications – "When I started with Sears, residential Gate & Door Accessories Telephone Entry elephone Entry Security Visit us @ booth 1739 chain link fence was wood-frame, heavy (Schedule 40) with 9 gauge chain link and light (struc- tural-BSS Light) with 11 gauge chain link. I was shocked to see high- strength light wall tube for residential when I started building for Hoosier. "When I first started doing blue- print take-off work, specifications for the most part were cut and dried. It was either Schedule 40 pipe or hot- rolled "H" post. When high-strength pipe and roll-formed "C" became available, they were not in ASTM yet, and, if required, were only specified when the specifying agent wrote the spec. "ASTM references were very rare. continued on page 38 Gate & Door Operators Access Control Ped Gate What Can Encon Offer YOU? Over 200 Years Experience Free Tech Support Expert Training Spanish Speaking Techs Over 70 Manufacturers CAGOI Certified Quality Products Your Distributor Encon's reputation for superior customer service and expert training is renowned in the industry. We consistently offer our dealers diverse and quality products, free tech support and the individual attention YOUYOU deserve. Call and see for yourself! 800.782.5598 WWW.ENCONELECTRONICS.COM