James D. Reigle, Chairman of the Board

Mr. Reigle is the son of founder, J.O. Reigle. Like his father, James D. acquired front-line sales experience in the cookware business before assuming leadership in the overall operations. Before joining Regal Ware in 1949, he served as a sergeant in the US Army Air Corps in Germany and earned a Bachelor of Science-Commerce degree. His earliest tasks, in the Receiving Department, were humble ones, supplying production lines by "lugging crates and cartons from truck to dock." From these modest beginnings developed a man who eventually became the president of the company upon his father's retirement in 1965.

As James D. Reigle relates, his father would much rather sell one top-quality product for a higher price than two low-quality items. James D. believes such attention to quality and durability, along with customer trust and loyalty, determines the success of a business. When he assumed the company's leadership, James D.'s goal was to continue the company's growth under the philosophy initiated by his father. That goal was achieved in a spectacular fashion between 1965 and 1990. Regal Ware experienced tremendous growth, and employment grew 285% during the period.

According to James D. himself, "the second task of a good executive is to train his replacement," making the transition to his successor a smooth one. His eldest son, Jeffrey A. Reigle became Regal Ware's President in 1992. Today James D. continues to be an integral member of Regal Ware's Executive Committee as Chairman of the Board.