In Memoriam of Meinl Founder Roland Meinl

March 4th, 1929 - December 4th, 2007

ROLAND MEINL, founder of Roland Meinl Musikinstrumente, a pioneer in the art of cymbal and percussion manufacturing, passed away on December 4, 2007, at the age of 78.

Roland was born March 4, 1929, in Silberbach, Sudetenland, as the oldest child of Emil and Hedwig Meinl. After attending elementary and business school, Roland joined the military at the age of 16 and served during the last days of World War II. After his military service, Roland began an apprenticeship as a wind instrument maker in Grasslitz, which he left when his family relocated to the small city of Rimpar, near Wuerzburg, after the war. There he began a business apprenticeship. Upon its completion his family moved to Neustadt a. d. Aisch, where he founded the Roland Meinl Musikinstrumente company in 1951. Roland produced the first Meinl cymbals by hand, with only the simplest of tools. He would carry the cymbals by bicycle to the Neustadt train station and ship them from there. In 1964 the company's first employee was hired, and in 1969 a new company building was constructed. During the '70s, Roland built up and developed his cymbal production, while at the same time establishing the company's distribution business, becoming a strong wholesale partner to music retailers in Germany and Austria. In 1978 Roland founded Meinl's first percussion factory in Thailand and began introducing the full range of Meinl percussion instruments. He is responsible for numerous groundbreaking innovations still applied in the percussion world today. His relentless work and ingenuity laid the foundation for his company's current success as one of the world's leading manufacturers and distributors of musical instruments.

After his son Reinhold began working with the company in 1972, Roland continued to be involved in all of the company's operations. As long as he lived, his presence, sense of humor, and magnanimity were felt among all Meinl's employees, who held him in the highest esteem. Widely known and appreciated as an outstanding businessman, his life story is intertwined with the success of his company.

Roland's family and the entire Meinl staff worldwide are deeply saddened by his passing. He leaves a hole that cannot be filled. He is survived by his wife Nit, his son Reinhold, his daughter Ingeborg, and five grandchildren.

Source: www.entrepreneur.com