ABI LEGENDS IN MANUFACTURING AWARDS

Posthumous manufacturing legend

fred lisle

Fred Lisle served as President of Lisle Corporation from 2009 until March 27, 2018, when he passed. Lisle Corp. is a privately held 6th generation family company located in Clarinda, Iowa. It was founded by C.A. Lisle in 1903. The company is a leading manufacturer of specialty automotive tools with a product line of more than 400 products. 

Fred was a 1978 graduate of Clarinda High School where he was an active participant in wrestling, track and cross country. Fred attended the Clarinda campus of Iowa Western Community College and received an A.A. degree in Business Administration. He then attended Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Mo., and graduated with a B.S. in Business Management. 

Fred married his high school sweetheart, Brenda (Griffith) Lisle on May 23, 1981. Fred and Brenda were married at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Clarinda, Iowa. They were devoted to each other for over 36 years and were blessed with two sons, Edwin and Andrew. 

Fred cherished spending as much time as he could with his family. Fred wasn’t one to talk about himself, but he loved to tell people about his family. While Fred’s work required him to travel often, neither of his sons remembered him ever missing any of the activities they were involved with in school. 

Fred’s career was centered on the welfare and continued growth of Lisle Corporation. Fred was part of the fifth generation to lead the company, which was founded in 1903. He worked his way up from the ground floor, starting part-time with a job in the assembly department. His first full time job was in the time study department in 1982. He later worked in sales and advertising before he became National Accounts Manager and then Vice President of Sales. He became President in 2009 and led the company to steady growth in both sales and market share. 

Fred also remained committed to his Alma Mater, Iowa Western Community College. He served as a trustee for the college, and championed the effort to develop the Center of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing (9CEAM) at the IWCC Center in Clarinda. While most companies recognized the impending shortage of skilled labor, Fred led a consortium of area companies to develop a solution through the CEAM program.

CEAM is a strategic partnership between IWCC, Lisle Corporation and several other area manufacturers that provides customized education and training in Industrial technology. The roughly $500,000 invested in state of the art machinery and equipment is housed in a repurposed gymnasium on the grounds of the Clarinda Center. Founded in 2016, the third cohort of students is scheduled to begin this September. 

Fred was also a strong advocate for the Clarinda community. He served the community in many ways and was a board member with various community organizations. He was always committed to providing opportunities within the community and at Lisle Corporation for the benefit of area residents. He was particularly interested in providing opportunities for the youth to stay in Clarinda or come back to the community. 

Fred was very approachable and personable. As a business leader, he was supportive and collaborative. He cared about his employees, and was eager to hear their ideas and opinions, which he frequently implemented. As a community leader his cooperative style promoted open dialogue and the most productive outcomes. In his own relaxed and personable style, he was truly a transformational leader.