Harold Markus, 89, died May 14 in Los Angeles from heart failure. He was an early pioneer in the PVF industry starting in 1933 in Tulsa, Okla., in the pipe and oil well supply business. Following service in World War II, in 1946 he founded Jackson-Markus Supply, a PVF distributor in Los Angeles. Harold was also a partner in Sunweld Fitting Co., a manufacturer of stainless steel welding fittings.

Harold retired in 1982 but retained deep roots in the PVF industry. Stepson Ron Kurstin is CEO of Smith-Cooper International, son Dan Markus is president of Cal Pipe Manufacturing and brother Alvin Markus operates the consulting firm PVF Engineering, and was former president of Sunweld Fitting Co.