Former Lincoln Electric CEO dies

Cleveland-based Lincoln Electric, a manufacturer of arc welding products, robotic arc welding systems, and plasma and oxyfuel cutting equipment, has announced that former CEO Donald F. Hastings died Dec. 27, 2016, at the age of 88.

He worked for the company for 44 years, joining in 1953 as a trainee in its welding school after earning a degree in economics from Pomona College and a master’s degree in marketing from Harvard Business School. In 1986 he was named president and served as CEO and chairman of the board from 1992 to 1997.

During his career and through retirement, Hastings was involved in numerous professional organizations. He served as chairman/CEO of the Cleveland Council of World Affairs; an executive committee member of the Greater Cleveland Growth Association; chairman of the International Trade Alliance; chairman of the Cleveland World Trade Center; and chairman of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), for which he also served on the board of governors.

Hastings was honored at the National Welding Supply Association’s (NWSA) annual meeting in 1997 and also by the Gases & Welding Distributors Association (formerly the NWSA) in 2009. The Cleveland Engineering Society recognized Hastings with its 1998 Leadership Award. In 2001 he received the AWS Counselors Award for outstanding service to the welding industry. In addition, AWS has named two scholarships after Hastings.