CHIPPEWA, Pa. - Foster McCarl Jr., chairman emeritus of McCarl’s Inc. and past president of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA), died of natural causes on Jan. 24, 2007. He was 83.

Mr. McCarl served in the U.S. Air Force from 1944 to 1946 and founded McCarl’s Plumbing and Heating Co. in 1946. (The company became Mc-Carl’s Inc. in 1976.) In addition to his extensive work with the MCAA, he was a very active member of the Chippewa United Methodist Church, serving as a Sunday school teacher, chairman of the trustees, chairman of the finance committee, and a member of the conference corporation committee.

Mr. McCarl also served the United Way of Beaver County, Pa., as board member, past president, and campaign chairman. He was a past board member of the Salvation Army and was a member of the Blackhawk School board of directors for more than 20 years. In addition, he served on the boards of the McGuire Memorial Home, the Medical Center Foundation, the Heritage Valley Board, and the Pittsburgh Symphony Society.

Mr. McCarl’s many awards included Young Man of the Year (1958), Man of the Year (1961), MCAA Lifetime Achievement Award (1995), Ronald McDonald House Charities Big MAC Award (1997), Pennsylvania Society Sons of American Revolution Lifetime Achievement Award (1999), Scottish Rite Freemasonry 33rd Degree (2000), and the Beaver County Foundation Pioneer Award (2006).

He was preceded in death by great-grandson Carter James Brown, and survived by his wife of 62 years, Muriel Phillips McCarl; sons F. James (Carol), Brian, Kevin, and Shawn (Kimberly); 12 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family has requested that memorial contributions be sent to the McGuire Memorial Home, 2119 Mercer Rd., New Brighton, PA 15066; or the Music Department at Chippewa United Methodist Church, 2545 Darlington Rd., Beaver Falls, PA 15010.

Publication date: 03/05/2007