Leo Stalzer: The Lion of Lion Sheet Metal Machinery

Lion Machinery founder Leo Henry Stalzer passed away last year at the age of 86 in St. Louis, Missouri. A native of Illinois, Stalzer was a beloved husband of 65 years to Marilyn (nee Hirschfelder), a loving father to Patricia Jean (James) Tornatore, Robert Paul (Sepideh), Maryellen Kliethermes, Sharon Lee, the late David Leo, and a host of other titles that make for a full life outside of work, including brother, uncle, grandfather and great-grandfather. But for those who knew him in the sheet metal industry, he will always be an innovator.

Leo Stalzer

Stalzer began his career as a tin knocker and progressed to engineer, entrepreneur and multi-patented inventor as the head of Lion Machinery, a trusted name in sheet metal machinery that operates today under the ownership of Mestek Machinery.

By all accounts, Stalzer has made an indisputable mark on the sheet metal industry that is still evident in his dreamed inventions and the countless jobs and job sites generated from selling his machines that have allowed other businesses to dream, too. Donations in Stalzer’s honor can be made to Operation Food Search.

Submit your project and see it published in SNIPS magazine at snipsmag.com/jobsite-photo-submission.

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Emell Derra Adolphus has more than a decade of writing and journalism experience. He is senior editor of ENR’s Top Lists and Survey Rankings at ENR magazine and frequently contributes stories on technology, climate resiliency, diversity, equity and inclusion.