12.07.2007

J. Martin Benchoff 1927 -2007

J. Martin Benchoff one of the last surviving men that built Grove manufacturing into a world wide crane and aerial lift manufacturer, died at 1:20 am this morning at his home in Rouzerville near Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.
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J. Martin Benchoff

Benchoff is survived by his daughter Helen who lives in Waynesboro, his son Martin Jr. who lives in Massachusetts and four grandchildren.

He was born in Hagerstown, Maryland and grew up between the villages of Blue Ridge Summit and Rouzerville and in spite of a good deal of international travel, never left the area.

Benchoff went to St Andrew School in Waynesboro, followed by the Friends Academy in Philadelphia and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania before returning home.

He was working for the local gas company when he was ‘spotted’ in 1954 by the Grove brothers and Wayne Nicarry who offered Benchoff a job as sales manager for their farm wagon manufacturing business, on a commission-only basis.

He was the company's first salesman and was instrumental in transforming Grove from the local farm wagon producer into the world’s leading crane producer. He became president and CEO in 1969.
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J. Martin Benchoff in 1966 with three of the managers that would stay with him for much of his carreer, (L-R) Ken Kilheffner, Bob Maynard and Charlie Warner

In 1987 Benchoff was in the process of organising a Management Buy Out of Grove from its parent Kidde, when Hanson made a sudden but successful takeover of the conglomerate.

Hanson policy at the time was to remove the CEO of its acquisitions, meant that Benchoff was soon let go, although he was appointed as chairman emeritus, remaining on the payroll until his official retirement several years later.

Benchoff in his heyday was a brilliant leader and manager, he would never accept No for an answer, although he was tough he also had a skill for picking talented managers and letting them get on with the job… as long as they succeeded.

He set a standard for the company that left no employee with any doubt of “ the Grove Way” of doing things. You did it right and if you made a mistake “you put her right”. If there was a problem “You took care of it”.

Martin Benchoff had a great respect for Winston Churchill, and clearly liked to model himself on the great man, he loved Cuban cigars which he always purchased in London, a glass of Cutty Sark and an audience that would listen to his stories, most of which evolved around his great passion in life of shooting and fishing.
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An earlier shot of J. Martin Benchoff (C) with John Grove (L) and Richard Bikle ready to board a Grove plane with what looks like their hunting gear.

The equipment industry has lost one of its great men today.

The Funeral will be held on monday with a memorial service planned for Mid August, most likely the 12th.