Founder of D&S Electrical Supply Passes Away
Sherman Akers, founder of D&S Electrical Supply Co. in Pocatello, Idaho passed away on Dec. 12, 2019 at the age of 81.
Known as “Sherm” to his coworkers, Akers started his career in the electrical distribution industry with Electrical Contractors Supply in Pocatello.
In 1980 he, along with his wife Donna, established D&S Electrical Supply Co. Akers was a life-long member of the National Association of Electrical Distributors and contributed many years of knowledge and expertise to the electrical industry. He was an incredible businessman, friend and mentor. Akers’ dedication to building long-lasting relationships with customers and vendors will always be the foundation of D&S Electrical Supply.
Founded in 1980 with the motto, “Here to Serve You,” D&S Electrical Supply continues as Akers’ son, Andrew, and daughter, Angela Lyon, take over the company operations.
Akers is survived by his wife of 62 years, Donna, son Andrew, two daughters, Amy and Angela, and seven grandchildren.
Ken Rogers of Ideal Electric Supply Passes Away
Ken Rogers, executive vice president and co-owner of Ideal Electric Supply Corp., Washington D.C., passed away on Feb. 7. The beloved husband of Cora Williams and father of Todd and Angela Rogers passed away peacefully after a very full and exciting life. The couple enjoyed a long and loving relationship of more than 35 years.
Rogers was born in Decatur, Alabama and raised in Winter Haven, Florida. He had a stellar career and held several executive positions in Corporate America, both domestically and abroad; the U.S. Army; various high-level government appointments and in recent years served as executive vice president and co-owner of the Ideal Electric Supply Corp., a vocation that he shared with his loving wife Cora.
He is survived by three siblings, two children, two grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. He was a long-time Virginia resident, an avid golfer, extensive traveler and an all-around renaissance man. He graduated with high academic honors from Florida A&M in 1962, where he was the saxophone section leader in the world-renowned Marching 100 Rattlers. Rogers was blessed with an extraordinary life, opportunities, experiences and a loving family and scores of friends who will miss him dearly.
Donations in his honor should be sent to Ideal
Companies Scholarship Fund, c/o Ideal Electric Companies, 3515 V Street, Northeast, Washington, D.C. 20018.
William Schnirring Jr. of Springfield Electric Supply Co. Passes Away
William Schnirring Jr. passed away at age 90 on Jan. 26. He began his career working alongside his father in 1952 and led the secondgeneration family-owned Springfield Electric Supply Co. as president/CEO for most of his 44 years before retiring in 1996 but remaining active as chairman emeritus. Schnirring Jr. was active in the industry as the National Association of Electrical Distributors chair from 1979-1980 and a recipient of the Arthur W. Hooper Achievement Award in 2002.
Today, the company is composed of both thirdand fourth-generation family members, working alongside other associate owners who continue to build on the strong family business that Schnirring Jr.’s father started. Schnirring Jr. will always be remembered by company associates for his dedicated work ethic, exemplary customer culture he instilled and his dedication to improving the communities the company served.
Schnirring Jr.’s wife, Mary, of 69 years passed on Jan. 12. Surviving family members include two daughters, Kathy (Randy) Germeraad and Carolyn (Dan) Dungan; four grandchildren; five greatgrandchildren and a sister, Lyn Kennedy.
The family will celebrate the lives of Schnirring Jr. and his wife at a joint service in May 2020 in Springfield, Illinois.