Moving Metal

Wide sheet aluminum being covered by polyvinylchloride film at aerospace industry specialist AMI Metals, acquired by Reliance in 1997.

to retire. On February 3, he stepped down as Chairman of the Board, receiving the title Director and Chairman Emeritus. With Gimbel’s blessing, Joe Crider was unanimously elected to the chairmanship. In passing the torch, Gimbel described Crider as “an integral part of the Reliance team” and noted that “his leadership over the years has contributed greatly to our growth as one of the largest metals service centers in the U.S.” Crider graciously accepted the office but was subdued by the circum- stances of his promotion. “Stepping into Bill Gimbel’s shoes is a daunting task,” he said, “but I look forward to the challenge.” A short time later, Gimbel was honored by the Steel Service Center Institute for his “exceptional business acumen

handling equipment and a modern shipping and receiving center. Another Reliance subsidiary, MetalCenter, Inc., boosted processing capacity and brought its equipment up to date in September 1996 by installing a new Ruesch thirty-six-inch light- gauge close-tolerance slitter capable of processing aluminum, stainless steel, and silicon steel strip. Meanwhile, Reliance’s wholly-owned electropolished stainless steel subsidiary, Valex Corp., opened three additional distribution centers in Portland, Austin, and Phoenix. Bill Gimbel continued to serve as Chairman of the Board and kept coming to the office after the IPO. But by early 1997, the seventy-eight-year-old Gimbel knew that it was finally time

113