May 2018 Vol 73 No. 5
Newsline
In Memoriam: Mark Osadchuk
Mark Osadchuk, innovator, business owner, leader and inspiration within the pipeline industry, died April 12, in Scottsdale, Ariz., at age 83.
His legacy began when he left his Alberta, Canada, home during the drilling boom of the 1950s, for the oilfields of Western Canada. There he worked for several pipeline contractors and learned to operate heavy oilfield equipment.
In 1965, he formed Central Pipeline and Cable Co. and remained its president until 1967, when he organized Natural Pipeline Company Inc. Based out of Lakeville, Minn., the company was engaged in the installation of all types of underground utilities.
In 1980, he formed Southeast Pipeline Contractors, Inc., which grew to be one of the largest mainline pipeline contractors in the U.S. The company became today’s Ozzie’s Pipeline Padder Inc. in the late 1980s, when he invented the self-propelled, -loading backfill separation machine (pipline padder). This groundbreaking invention is used worldwide in the pipeline industry and is covered by 19 patents throughout the world.
He was a member of DCA, IPLOCA and PLCA, serving on the PLCA Labor Committee for many years and being elected as an Honorary Member in 2008. His son, Dwayne is the current director of PLCA.
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