OUR FOUNDER, GEORGE RISK 1912-1989

George Risk was born on December 8, 1912, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. George became interested in electricity at a very early age and by the age of seventeen, he had developed “500,000 Volts of Electricity” to entertain audiences in the Cedar Rapids area. Using transformers and tesla coils, he generated 500,000 volts to operate a man-lifting magnet and Jacob’s Ladder.

George was a radio bug early on. He set up a shop at the back of his boyhood home and built his first radio by the age of ten. With the aid of an aerial and telephone receiver, he was able to get Davenport, Iowa.

After graduating from Grant High School in Cedar Rapids, he owned and operated a radio shop in Wood, South Dakota until 1932. In 1938, George moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where he started his Electronic Development Corporation which researched perfecting war weapons and peace time luxuries. At the same time, he was operating his electronic radio-television institute which trained 7,000 U.S. soldiers and Marines under contract with the government during World War II. The school also prepared women to become communications clerks.

George met and married Eileen Johnson in 1941.

In 1944 George sold the school and continued to operate the Electronic Development Corporation until a fire destroyed it in 1949. He and his co-workers were just beginning production on a $1,000,000 contract furnishing television picture tubes and parts for a television manufacturer.

George then moved his family of four to Chicago where he became Executive Vice President of American TB Laboratories, a manufacturer of television tubes.

In 1951, the family relocated to Columbus, Nebraska, where he started a small electronics company, named Dale Products after his eldest son. Dale Electronics developed into a multi-plant company employing 2600 people - a true electronics giant leading the field in manufacturing precision resistors.

George was involved in the White Sands, Nevada, nuclear fusion testing in 1955 to prepare data on the effects of nuclear detonations on communications.

After following some ill advice on a stock merger, George lost controlling interest in Dale Electronics and spent the sixties attempting to recover losses and reorganize various companies. In 1968, he found a defunct and inoperative public company and fiercely raised the necessary monies to pay off its’ creditors. This company became George Risk Industries, Inc. George jumped into this new venture with gusto letting all of his inventive genius come into play. At about this time, a group of businessmen from Kimball, Nebraska, negotiated with George to relocate G.R.I. to Kimball from Columbus. George brought the Company to Kimball, promising to employ a minimum of five workers. The main product line was push button reed switches. Today G.R.I. employs close to 300 and has a satellite plant in Gering, Nebraska. After George’s passing in 1989, their youngest son, Ken Risk, was appointed President and C.E.O. by the Board of Directors.

George invented many products over his life time including many of the standard burglar alarm switches sold today. His work was his life, along with his family. One of his greatest loves was St. Jude’s Childrens Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. One of the original founders, along with his good friend Danny Thomas, George served on the Board for many years. As a remembrance to George, his employees, still today, donate to St. Jude’s in his name at Christmas time. G.R.I. then matches the donation from the employees. Also, the Company donates the amount it would have spent on Christmas gifts to our Reps and Customers each year.

George was much loved and is missed by his long time employees who worked for him. Many have their favorite stories about their relationship with him and how he shaped their lives.

Can't find what you are looking for?

• Search grisk.com
• Request more information about Security Products
• Request more information about Keyboard Products

http://www.grisk.com/grihistory.htm
Web design by The Computer Guy Copyright © 1997-2008