In Memoriam
E. Lee Ronnel,
Metal Recycling Corp.
E. Lee Ronnel, president of Metal Recycling Corp. (Little Rock, Ark.), passed away Jan. 29 at age 85. Lee was a dedicated member of the Gulf Coast Chapter of first the Institute of Scrap Iron and Steel (an ISRI predecessor association) and then ISRI since joining the scrap business in 1964 at A. Tenenbaum Co. (North Little Rock, Ark.).
He founded Metal Recycling Corp. in 1979 and grew his family business over four decades to three scrap processing operations and two metal trading companies with the help of sons Mike, who joined MRC in 1989, and Steve, who joined in 1999. Over the years, Lee served as a member of the Gulf Coast Chapter board of directors and supported the chapter’s scholarship program.
In 2009, the chapter honored Lee with its Israel Proler Award, recognizing his lifetime achievements in the industry. “Lee loved the scrap business because he understood it’s a ‘people business’ and a ‘relationship business,’ and he cherished the many lasting friendships he made over the years through ISRI,” Mike Ronnel said.
The Ronnel family thanks the members of the ISRI Gulf Coast Region for their outpouring of love and support.
The family suggests that contributions in Lee Ronnel’s memory be made to the endowment funds of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, UAMS, Jewish Federation of Arkansas, Temple B'Nai Israel, or the charity of your choice.
