Legendary Ditch Witch Founder and Trencher Inventor Ed Malzahn Dies
Ed Malzahn, legendary founder of Ditch Witch and widely credited as the inventor of the modern trencher, has died at the age of 94. Malzahn launched the first service line trencher, the Ditch Witch model DWP in 1949 from a small machine shop in Oklahoma.
The small machine shop grew to become Ditch Witch, a Charles Machine Works company, which now employs more than 1,500 workers and has more than 175 dealerships and branches serving 195 countries. Ditch Witch has produced and sold more than half of the world’s trenching machines, the company said.
“Ed was the inspirational leader of the Ditch Witch and the Charles Machine Works family for over 65 years,” said Rick Johnson, CEO of CMW. “He possessed a sharp mind, strong rural work ethic and generous spirit, all of which he used to better those around him.”
Malzahn is widely recognized as an industry leader and innovator. He was inducted in the Oklahoma Inventors Hall of Fame, The American Rental Association Hall of Fame and North American Society for Trenchless Technology Hall of Fame. He also was named Inventor of the Year by the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Patent, Trademark and Copyright Section.
Malzahn was born and bred in Oklahoma and was very involved as a civic leader and philanthropist in his hometown of Perry, Okla., and throughout the state, including volunteer service and financial contributions to numerous organizations and boards at the local, state and national level.
Very much a family man, Charles Machine Works has remained a family business since its creation, even after global success. Malzahn’s granddaughter, Tiffany Sewell-Howard represents the fifth generation of the Malzahn family and now serves as the executive chair of CMW.
Malzahn is survived by his three children, nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. To send condolences or share memories, please visit EdMalzahn.com.
Memorial and funeral arrangements are scheduled as follows:
Memorial: Friday, Dec. 18, 2015, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Ditch Witch Training Center, 1947 West Fir Ave., Perry, OK 73077.
Funeral Services, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2:00 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 1922 N. 15 St., Perry, OK 73077.
About the Author
Michael Roth
Editor
Michael Roth has covered the equipment rental industry full time for RER since 1989 and has served as the magazine’s editor in chief since 1994. He has nearly 30 years experience as a professional journalist. Roth has visited hundreds of rental centers and industry manufacturers, written hundreds of feature stories for RER and thousands of news stories for the magazine and its electronic newsletter RER Reports. Roth has interviewed leading executives for most of the industry’s largest rental companies and manufacturers as well as hundreds of smaller independent companies. He has visited with and reported on rental companies and manufacturers in Europe, Central America and Asia as well as Mexico, Canada and the United States. Roth was co-founder of RER Reports, the industry’s first weekly newsletter, which began as a fax newsletter in 1996, and later became an online newsletter. Roth has spoken at conventions sponsored by the American Rental Association, Associated Equipment Distributors, California Rental Association and other industry events and has spoken before industry groups in several countries. He lives and works in Los Angeles when he’s not traveling to cover industry events.