David DerrowOhio Transmission Corporation, an industrial equipment service provider and distributor headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, announced, with deepest regrets, the passing of company co-founder David Derrow.
“Although David has not been active in Ohio Transmission Corporation for many years, the values that he instilled remain the foundation of how we work for our customers, suppliers and other associates,” says Matt Piatt, COO/CFO of Ohio Transmission Corp. “The impact that he made to those both within OTC and the broader distribution world will not soon be forgotten.”
In a 1999 interview with the Columbus Jewish Historical Society, Derrow said that after World War II, he went to work for his father-in-law, who was a partner in Bernstein Brothers Inc., a distributor of mechanical and electrical power transmission equipment, pumps and air compressors in Paterson, New Jersey. He eventually became vice president and general manager. In 1963, he moved his young family to Columbus, Ohio, where he built a thriving company now known as Ohio Transmission Corporation. Derrow founded OTC with his business partner, Phil Carstens.
In the 1960s, the company had six employees. Ohio Transmission Corporation today has 37 locations throughout the South, Southeast, Midwest and Northeast regions, along with 16 service shops and has a workforce of more than 900 employees. His son, Philip Derrow, is President/CEO of Ohio Transmission Corp.
David Derrow was active in serving the community, serving as president of the Columbus Jewish Community Center and president of the Columbus Jewish Historical Society.
