Remembering ECA’s Pete Schell
His legacy knew no limits
By Brian M. Fraley
Pete Schell, former long-time employee of Equipment
Corporation of America (ECA), passed away on June
28. After dedicating 38 years to ECA and directly helping
to transition the company into the sophisticated,
century-old global operation it is today, he had earned a
rightful place as a member of the family.
Schell worked in the shop with Hercules Machinery in
Sterling, Va., a family-owned pile driving equipment business
in the 1970s. After recognizing Schell’s standing with local
contractors, former ECA president Ben Dutton forged a connection
with him in an effort to expand ECA’s footprint into
the region.
ECA opened its Washington, D.C., branch in the late 1970s
with Schell at the helm, working from home in the early days.
ECA Washington, D.C., was focused primarily on pile hammers
at the time, but Schell helped to fuel the company’s
much greater aspirations.
“Schell was instrumental in getting ECA started in the
foundation drilling business, starting a dealer relationship
with Krupp in the mid-1980s, followed by Hütte and Klemm,”
said ECA CEO Roy Kern. “This early foray into small diameter
drilling gave us a big head start on many of our competitors,
and to this day, foundation drilling is our biggest market.”
Schell’s exceptional mechanical aptitude earned him
respect with many foundation contractors and drove ECA
Washington, D.C.’s expansion. Some even suggested he could
build a complete Klemm, Krupp, or Hütte drilling rig with his
eyes closed. Schell, went on to contribute more than US$7
million in profits over his career, during a time when US$1
million was a substantial sum for ECA.
Schell’s influence extended far beyond ECA Washington,
D.C.’s territory. His core territory was Maryland; Washington,
D.C.; and Virginia; but his true reach was east of Mississippi.
Kern said in Schell’s eulogy, “Schell has moved on to a
better place to be reunited with Jesus and his wife Christl,
and he’s probably designing the ultimate drill rig with
Michelangelo as I speak. He was a great man and his legacy
lives on – at ECA and in all of you.”
Schell retired in 2013, but his legacy lives on through his
son, Dave. He followed in Schell’s footsteps in 2006, and currently
serves as corporate director of parts and service at
ECA Washington, D.C. Dave wears the watch presented to
Schell at his retirement dinner in 2014, to remind him of his
father’s service to the company. The watch inscription reads
“1976–2013,” but it seems the Schell name will be alive and
well at ECA for decades to come.
PHOTOS: ECA
IN MEMORIAM
76 Q4 2020 www.pilingcanada.ca
/www.pilingcanada.ca
