Lloyd Nolfo, who founded Buck & Knobby Equipment Co. in 1948 and owned it for nearly 67 years, has died, the Toledo Blade reported. Nolfo was 90.
Nolfo, who was nicknamed “Knobby,” opened for business with former partner Buck Cole in 1948, initially renting, selling and repairing lawn equipment. The company eventually expanded into rentals, sales and repair of Deere industrial and construction equipment, and still offers a wide range of construction and lawn-and-garden equipment.
According to Buck & Knobby president Ray Cordrey, Nolfo also invented and built trailers, attachments for backhoes and excavators and more, calling Nolfo “a self-made blacksmith.”
Although Nolfo stepped down as president in 2008, he continued to be active in the business six days a week, according to one of his daughter, who added that he often extended credit to customers, allowing them to pay when jobs were completed, often going six months without payment.
Nolfo is survived by his wife Alice, daughters Linda Rose Eckhart, Laurie Katherine Nolfo and Amy Nolfo, and five grandchildren.
Nolfo’s family suggests tributes to be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
To read the full story, go to: http://www.toledoblade.com/Deaths/2015/03/31/Lloyd-R-Nolfo-1924-2015-Businessman-called-self-made-blacksmith.html
