The Natural Refrigeration

The International Institute of All-Natural Refrigeration posted remembrance videos for each of its seven inductees into the Natural Refrigeration Foundation’s Legacy 100 Club.

Each inductee to the Legacy 100 Club represents an impactful contribution to the advancement of natural refrigerants, said Mike Chapman, IIAR’s Vice President of Operations. “This is a chance for us to collectively name and acknowledge individuals for their contributions to our industry so that everyone is aware of the history of contributions that have helped to shape what our industry has become today.”

Chapman said each inductee’s contributions are showcased online with a video biography posted on the NRF website along with information regarding their contributions to the natural refrigeration industry.

IIAR’s Chapman said the Legacy 100 Club is a key program for NRF, which hopes to increase the sustainability of its fundraising as an investment in the future talent of the industry through scholarships and the advancement of its science through research.

“A big part of investing in our future is our ability to award scholarships annually to recruit skilled and talented students into the natural refrigeration industry. It’s exciting that we get to do that by using these incredible stories of our past to invest in our future.” Each of the seven inaugural Legacy 100 Club Members featured on NRF’s site have in their own way advanced natural refrigerants, said Chapman.

“Each of these club members was a ‘great’ in terms of what they contributed to our industry and what they made possible for future generations. It’s an honor to introduce them as part of this program.

Club Member William “Bill” E. Kahlert: Evapco
William “Bill” E. Kahlert led each day of his life with a compassionate heart and a giving spirit, and he used those gifts to make a difference in the communities where he lived and worked. As a co-founder of EVAPCO, Inc., an industry-leading manufacturing company with global resources and solutions for worldwide heat transfer applications, Bill believed in the power of innovation and teamwork.

Club Member John Engalitcheff, Jr.: Baltimore Aircoil Company
John Engalitcheff, Jr. was an engineer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist who transformed the HVAC and refrigeration industries. A Russian immigrant and Johns Hopkins graduate, he founded Baltimore Aircoil Company in 1938, growing it into a global leader. Holding 47 patents, he advanced sustainable cooling, earned recognition from President Reagan, and was inducted into the ASHRAE Hall of Fame

Club Member Wilson E. Bradley: Evapco
Wilson E. Bradley, Chairman Emeritus of EVAPCO, co-founded the company in 1976 with Bill Kahlert. His engineering expertise and leadership grew EVAPCO into a global heat transfer leader. He holds 35 U.S. patents and 200+ international patents and served IIAR as Standards Review Chair, Chairman, Honorary Life Member, and NRF Trustee.

Club Member Henry (Hank) Saye Sr.: Republic Refrigeration
Henry (Hank) Saye Sr. built his career on excellence and integrity, founding Republic Refrigeration, Inc. in 1983. He earned national respect for delivering high-quality industrial refrigeration design, installation, and service. Hank served on the IIAR Board and led the IIAR Code Committee.

Club Member Rudy Nechay: Industrial Refrigeration Service
Rudy Nechay began his refrigeration career in 1970 as an apprentice, rising to pipefitter, welder, and service mechanic. In 1978, he co founded Industrial Refrigeration Service and led multiple companies. A licensed Master, he served on the Boards of IIAR, NRF, MCA, and RETA and was IIAR Member of the Year in 2010.

Club Member Art Marshall: AAIM Controls
Art Marshall entered industrial refrigeration in 1979, helping pioneer microprocessor based controls and sensor systems. From 2003–2022, he served as President and owner of AAIM Controls. After 43 years in the industry, he retired in 2022 and remains active in RETA and IIAR.

Club Member John Payne: Refrigeration Design & Service
John Payne founded RD&S – Refrigeration Design & Service in Pennsylvania, building it into an internationally respected company. He served 30 years on the IIAR Piping Committee, six years as NRF Treasurer, and remains a Natural Refrigeration Foundation Trustee.