Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/66838
6 • JUNE 2012 • WORLD FENCE NEWS May 7, 1954 – April 28, 2012 JR Mann, long-time vice-president of Stephens Pipe & Steel, was company's first employee It is with great sadness that I re- port the passing of JR Mann of Jamestown, Kentucky, the very first employee of Stephens Pipe and Steel. JR, who was 57 years old, died suddenly on April 28, 2012. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Debbie; his daughter, Susan Pel- ston and her husband, Brad; his pride and joy, granddaughter, Zoie Pelston; his son, Adam Mann and his wife, Ashley; his son, Alex Mann; and two brothers, Sammy and Coy Mann. They are all from Jamestown, Kentucky. JR worked his entire career with me at Stephens Pipe, a span of nearly 40 years. We must have traveled a mil- lion miles together. When I started the company in 1974, JR was employee No. 1. In the beginning he cut pipe, welded gates, loaded trucks and made deliveries – anything that needed to be done. As the company grew, so did JR's role and duties. On his watch he saw Stephens Pipe grow from one employee to one thousand, and he was always willing to do whatever it took to get the job done. There was noth- JR Mann ing JR loved more than his wife and family, and he made sure they knew it. He and Debbie married in 1973 and soon started their family. JR's sim- ple pleasures included hunting and fishing with his children and friends. He shined like the sun in the presence of his granddaughter, Zoie. Later in life he took up golf, taking the bold step of getting his wife to join him; a brave man to be sure! 5% OFF ORDERS* LESS THAN $500 CALL NOW TOLL FREE: 866.905.3515 SAVE 10% ON ORDERS* $500 OR MORE New facility will allow American Access Systems room for future growth American Access Systems, part of the Security Brands, Inc. family of ac- cess control brands, announced it is re- locating to a new operating and manufacturing facility in Englewood, Colorado. The new 14,400 square foot American Access Systems facility will be located at 1675 West Yale Blvd., and will house the company's manu- facturing, warehousing, sales and mar- keting divisions, as well as the customer service and senior manage- ment teams. "An official announcement will be made once the move is finalized in June, with a special invitation to our distribution network to tour the new facility and visit during our open house," said Kevin Downing, president of Security Brands, Inc. Located 10 minutes from down- town Denver and only 45 minutes southwest of Denver International Air- port, customers of Security Brands, Inc. will see no disruption of product shipments, inventory availability or customer service support with the re- location, Downing noted. "The new facility provides us in- creased manufacturing, R&D and in- ventory space for a number of growth opportunities that we see coming within the access control industry in the near future," he said. "The new fa- cility will feature a product display area allowing Security Brands, Inc.'s distribution network and customers to experience firsthand the performance value of our company's three brands." "With a full-line of American Everyone in the fence industry – customer, vendor, and competitor alike – respected JR and enjoyed spending time with him. Our general manager, Ted Eysen- bach, remembers this about JR: "He was quick to laugh, and what a great laugh it was! Everyone he met became a friend." Nearly 400 people traveled from all parts of the country to attend his fu- neral on May 1 in Russell Springs, Kentucky. As is fitting, he was laid to rest on a beautiful Kentucky spring day. JR and I laughed together, traveled together, worked together and spent a lifetime together. He leaves a hole in our lives you can drive a bus through. Terry Stephens President Stephens Pipe & Steel Russell Springs, Kentucky American Access Systems, part of the Security Brands, Inc. family of access control brands, will relocate to a new operating and manufacturing facility, shown above, in Englewood, Colorado. (American Access Systems photo) made access and perimeter control se- curity products, American Access Sys- tems has been an industry leader for more than 30-years, staying true to our slogan 'Your Partner in Access Con- trol,' with superior customer service and product technology. Security Brands, Inc. currently consists of three divisions that relate to the perimeter access control industry: American Access Systems, Summit Access Control and Kodiak Black. "Providing high quality access control and perimeter security related equipment for a variety of applications in multiple industries is the foundation upon which Security Brands, Inc. is built," said Downing. Additional information on Secu- rity Brands, Inc. can be found at the web sites SecurityBrandsInc.com and AmericanAccess.com. For convenient access to World Fence News OnLine, visit www.worldfencenews.com