Bill Kirschner, K2 founder, 1918-2006

Seattle Times paid notice

H. William KIRSCHNER Passed away on Saturday, April 22nd, surrounded by his wife and family. He was born May 16th 1918 in Seattle, Washington. After graduating from Roosevelt High School he completed his degree from the School of Mining Engineering at the University of Washington in 1939. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. It was at the University that he met his wife, Barbara Rankin and they married in 1940. They lived most of their married life and raised their family on Vashon Island. Bill was a charter member of the Vashon Kiwanis Club and the Vashon Island Golf and Country Club and served on the Vashon School Board from 1951 to 1970, when he resigned due to business responsibilities. It was during the 1950s that Bill created a business with his father and brother designing and building splints for animal fractures and animal cages out of reinforced plastic at their plant on Vashon Island. In the 1960s Bill invented the fiberglass ski and founded K2 Corporation which became the largest ski manufacturer in the United States. He retired in 1982. In 2001 Bill was inducted into the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame where he was honored as "one of the great ski entrepreneurs of the 1960s, the golden years of the United States ski business." Bill received the 2005 Distinguished Service Award from the University of Washington School of Engineering. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Barbara, his sons, Bill (Susie) Kirschner, Bruce (Karen) Kirschner, all of Vashon and his daughter, Becky (David) Pendleton of Vancouver B.C. He also leaves behind his grandchildren, Brad, Victoria, Kimi, Kalie, Elly and Greg, five great grandchildren . A Celebration of his Life will be held Saturday, April 29th at 2:00 p.m. at the K2 Ski Corporation on Vashon Island. Donations may be made to the Vashon Partners in Education or to a charity of your choice.

Published in print on 4/25/2006.

Thanks for posting the notice. I grew up on Vashon Island and was aquainted with the Kirschner kids, Bruce was older than me and Becky was younger. I remember when Bill was in the animal cage business. I didn't recognize the real significance of his ski business until later when we learned that he was getting famous. He was my father's generation and they are now all passing on.

Another big player in the ski world passes on.   Quite a few friends of mine I grew up with, at one time or another worked in his plant making ski's.

In an un-ski related topic another who recently has passed away was Scott Crossfield the first to fly to Mach 2 in the Douglas Skyrocket and the first pilot of the X-15.  He died after crashing his Cessna 210.  Apparently had engine trouble and couldn't bring it back in time for a safe landing.  He was 84 years old.

It seems we are losing them fast right now.

seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews...irschnerobit27m.html

Obituary
His skis were legendary, but he always kept the "common touch"

By Lynda V. Mapes
Seattle Times staff reporter

It all started with dog cages and animal splints. And a missile nose cone, a lettuce-wrapping machine, a laundry basket and more than a few boat designs along the way. But then Bill Kirschner hit it big.

Mr. Kirschner invented the first commercially viable fiberglass ski, and founded K2 Corporation, which became the largest ski manufacturer in the country. K2 skis became national icons, with their trademark red, white and blue ridden to victory by world-class ski champions and Olympic medalists.

Heady stuff for a business that started in a metal shed on Vashon Island, where the company, now K2 Sports, is still the largest employer.

Mr. Kirschner died of pneumonia Saturday while recovering from surgery in a Seattle hospital. He was 87.

A man who did business on a smile and a handshake, Mr. Kirschner was also known for his honesty and his warmth.

"He never felt he was so successful or important you couldn't talk to him," said Grace Crecelius of Vashon Island, a longtime friend of the family. "He stayed connected to people. He never lost the common touch."

Born May 16, 1918, in Seattle, H. William Kirschner graduated from Roosevelt High School and in 1939 graduated from the University of Washington, where he studied engineering, was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and met Barbara Rankin, who became his wife of 66 years.

A temporary swelling in one of his eyes kept him from serving in World War II, so he went to work for a mine in Idaho. When it failed, he went to work in his grandfather's garage on Vashon Island, building a business with his father and brother making splints for fractured animal bones, and making animal cages out of reinforced plastic.

Fiddling around with fiberglass gave him a notion: Why not try making a ski?

For years, Mr. Kirschner tinkered with his new ski designs during the week, then took his family to Crystal Mountain on the weekends to test out the results. The early models peeled like bananas as soon as they hit the cold. "It was trial and error and hard work," recalled his son Bruce of Vashon Island.

Finally, Mr. Kirschner hit upon a "wet-wrap" process, in which he wound fiberglass fabric around a lightweight core of wood, then baked the ski into shape. His first skis hit the market in 1964. Within the decade, K2s were the choice of champions.

In 1970, the Cummins Engine Company bought K2, infusing the company with capital to grow. In 1976, Mr. Kirschner and a group of Seattle investors bought the company back, and Mr. Kirschner continued as chairman until he retired in 1982.

While the company has changed hands and shape several times over the years, and even sent its manufacturing to China, its world headquarters remain on Vashon. The Vashon plant employs 220 people.

And Mr. Kirschner remained on Vashon Island, where he was never too busy for family or his community. He served on the Vashon Island School Board for 19 years.

"He was home for dinner every night, and made every one of our (ball) games," remembered son Bruce. But of course, after dinner, he'd often go right back to work.

Even in retirement, Mr. Kirschner never stopped thinking, and he kept a journal of his ideas and inventions. At the time of his death, he was working on an idea to improve the shifting of bicycle gears.

"He was a pretty positive guy. 'I can do that,' is what he would say," remembered his wife. She laughed when asked the secret to their long marriage. "I bossed him a lot, and he turned a deaf ear, and we got along fine."

In 2001, Mr. Kirschner was inducted into the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame. He also received the 2005 Distinguished Service Award from the University of Washington School of Engineering.

In addition to his wife and son Bruce, survivors include son Bill of Vashon Island, daughter Becky Pendleton of Vancouver, B.C., and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A celebration of his life is set for 2 p.m. Saturday at K2 headquarters on Vashon Island. Donations may be made to the Vashon Partners in Education or to a charity of your choice.

Lynda V. Mapes: 206-464-2736 or lmapes@seattletimes.com