Thompson/Center Arms Pays Tribute To Ken French
ROCHESTER, N.H. –-(Ammoland.com)- Thompson/Center Arms Company, Inc., a Smith & Wesson company, mourns the loss of long-time employee and Master Gun Designer, Ken French.
Ken passed away on August 30th after battling cancer at the age of 71.
Ken’s legacy with Thompson/Center began in 1967 as the eleventh employee of the newly founded firearms manufacturer. After the retirement of founder Warren Center, Ken’s leadership and talents helped deliver dozens of successful products beginning with the Scout rifle and continuing on through the introduction of the Triumph muzzleloader. After Ken’s retirement in 2007, he enjoyed being a guiding hand to the design and development of the company’s new bolt-action platforms.
“There are few in the firearms industry that had the passion of Ken French,” stated Mark Laney, Thompson/Center Arms Director of Research and Product Development.
“His contribution to the designs for Thompson/Center in muzzleloading and single shot rifles are the identity of the company. Not only did he lead the design team, but he set up and developed the top customer service department in the industry before going on to become T/C’s Plant Manager. I, and many long-standing employees, owe a great debt to Ken as mentor, father figure and good friend. We will all miss him deeply.”
Known in the industry as a skilled shot with both handgun and rifle, Ken achieved a high level of success as a competitive silhouette shooter and was nominated as ‘Handgunner of the Year’ several times. His prowess as a woodsman rivaled his gun building talents and that’s where Ken enjoyed being most. Ken’s love of hunting brought him to all parts of the country where his hunting abilities and even-keeled personality earned him the respect of the industry’s top writers and guides.
In a quote from author J. Wayne Fears’ article called, “T/C’s Best Kept Secret: Ken French”, Ken says he was most proud “of the fact that we built really good guns, and stood behind them. If a customer had a problem, we solved it, no questions.” Ken French’s words reflect the company’s long time philosophy of ‘Customer First.’ He lived life like he designed guns -brilliantly simple- hard work, love of family, and a sense of adventure. He will be missed.
He is survived by his wife Pam, sons Ernie and Michael and daughters Darlene Small and Donna Goodwin.
About Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ: SWHC) is a U.S.-based, global provider of products and services for safety, security, protection and sport. The company designs and constructs facility perimeter security solutions for military and commercial applications, and delivers a broad portfolio of firearms and related training to the military, law enforcement and sports markets. SWHC companies include Smith & Wesson Corp., the globally recognized manufacturer of quality firearms; Universal Safety Response, a full-service perimeter security integrator, barrier manufacturer and installer; and Thompson/Center Arms Company, Inc., a premier designer and manufacturer of premium hunting firearms. SWHC facilities are located in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Tennessee. For more information on Smith & Wesson and its companies, call (800) 331-0852 or log on to www.smith-wesson.com; www.usrgrab.com; or www.tcarms.com.