Roland S. Boreham, Jr., CEO of Baldor Electric Co. from 1978 to 1981 and chairman from 1981 through 2004, died Sunday, Feb. 5.

Boreham began his career with Baldor in 1947, working for his father, who was a Baldor grinder representative in Los Angeles. He moved to Fort Smith, Ark., Baldor's corporate headquarters, in 1961, and became vice president of sales in 1962.

According to the company, Boreham was instrumental in developing Baldor's network of district offices and warehouses—which is still in effect today and considered one of the company's major competitive advantages.

"He will be remembered for his honesty, his ethics, and his fairness to all," the company said in a prepared statement. "He was an extremely benevolent person, giving to many charities anonymously. He believed strongly in the value of education, and gave substantially to many educational institutions, including the University of the Ozarks and the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith.

"He will be dearly missed by Baldor people and friends of Baldor throughout the world."