Ecolab VP Passes Away

Posted August 6, 2021 at 2:11 pm




Charles Ken Dowdy, Knoxville, TN, passed away on July 24. He was a great leader, mentor, coach and friend to so many in the commercial laundry industry and personal life, according to a news release.

Dowdy began his career in the commercial laundry industry as a route manager at National Linen and excelled quickly in this role. In July 1995, Dowdy joined Ecolab and held various positions, mainly in sales and customer-facing roles. Most recently, Dowdy served as vice president of sales, Ecolab Textile Care North America, leading the field sales and corporate accounts teams.

Ecolab noted in a statement that Dowdy “was a tremendously passionate and engaged leader, who led with his heart and soul. He consistently won the hearts and minds of so many through his extensive laundry experience, valuable insights and genuine ability to influence, inspire and teach. Ken will be truly missed in our industry, for his smile, humor, competitive nature and passion for the laundry business. Ken was a wonderful friend, mentor, coach, leader, but most of all a son, husband, father and grandfather.”

Dowdy stayed actively involved with TRSA and many of the linen, uniform and facility services industry trade associations. He was passionate about making connections and friendships, especially at customer meetings and industry events and consciously nurtured these relationships by demonstrating the value he offered. The release noted that, “Dowdy was very competitive in business, but he also made sure to enjoy life along the way, living by the motto, ‘Work Hard, Play Hard,’ something we can all remember him by.”

Memorials or cards can be sent to the Dowdy Family at 126 Clear Cove Ct., Lenoir City, TN 37772.

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