Harmony industrialist remembered
The name of Harmony industrialist John S. Alexander Jr. became synonymous with quality.
Alexander, 77, who died Sunday morning in his second home in Naples, Fla., became a successful entrepreneur, forming a conglomeration of companies, Alexander Mill Services Group.
“He was a self-made man,” said longtime friend and local attorney Doug Linn. “He turned a concept into a fortune and he did it with hard work and he did it with grace and style. And everybody loved him.”
Longtime friend Jack Bonus of Zelienople said Alexander was well-respected in the steel industry.
Bonus said very few people were in Alexander's class.
While assistant to the vice president of a steel mill service company, Alexander recognized a potential market in mini-mills, secondary steel producers.
He started Alexander Mill Services in 1981. He went to Bonus for insurance.
Bonus said he knew Alexander would be successful.
He was destined for success,” Bonus said. “He was a true American entrepreneur.”
Bonus said Alexander bought a loader with an American Express card because he didn't have the cash.
Alexander Mill Services began as a two-man operation using three pieces of equipment in 1981.
At the company's peak in 1996, it had more than 180 workers using more than 600 pieces of equipment.
Not content to rest on his laurels, Alexander went overseas, starting AMS International in Poland before expanding to countries such as Romania and Greece.
In 1996, Alexander sold the domestic operations to International Mill Services.
Bonus said he never encountered anyone who did not like Alexander.
He recalled seeing Alexander fire someone then have a drink with that person later.
“God didn't make many John Alexanders,” Bonus said. “Now, there's one less.”
Along with his wife, Leslie, and his son, John S. Alexander III, AMS president, Alexander is survived by two daughters, Jan Weyman of Zelienople and Tink Alexander; and two adopted daughters, Meygan and Molly Alexander.
Eagle staff writer Kim Paskorz contributed to this report.
