Melvin Stahl, CEO and founder of Bedford Reinforced Plastics, died May 22 at age 88.
Stahl launched BRP, a fiberglass-reinforced plastics maker in Bedford, Pa., in 1974. The firm is marking its 50th anniversary this year.
In a news release, officials said that under Stahl's leadership, BRP expanded from a small barn in rural Bedford County with a dozen employees to a full-service supplier of fiberglass-reinforced polymer (FRP) products to a global market.
Today, family-owned BRP has more than 200 employees and 200,000 square feet of manufacturing and fabrication space at two facilities. The firm has annual sales of $60 million and remains located in the same township where Stahl's vision began, officials said. In 2023, BRP opened a transportation management division named Reinforced Logistics. That unit opened with six trucks and eight drivers.
Stahl was raised in Bedford and attended Bedford High School before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1956. While stationed in Germany, Stahl met and married his wife, Carin, before returning to Bedford.
An obituary from the company said Stahl was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed spending time with family and watching the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was active in the community as a member of the Bedford Masons Lodge and Elks Lodge. Stahl also remained active in the family business, with sons Brian and Allen serving as president and vice president.
Stahl is survived by Carin, his wife of 65 years, a sister, two sons and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A private funeral service was held by the Stahl family.