Dave Reed, General Manager of Welders Supply Company/Valley National Gases, Willmar, Minnesota retired after 50 years in the welding supply industry.

Reed started working for Mankato Welding Supply in 1958.

Mankato Welding Supply, which later changed its name to Reynolds Welding Supply, was owned by James Reynolds, and later by his sons — Tom, Bill and Mike.

Dave moved to Willmar, Minnesota to become the General Manager of Welders Supply Company, a new acquisition of the Reynolds Group in1974.

He managed Welders Supply and its branch locations for 34 years and, for the last two years he was senior market area manager under the new ownership of Valley National Gases LLC. Valley acquired the Reynolds Group in October 2005.

Dave is former President of the AWS Northwest Section, member of MAAD — Midwest Association of Airco Distributors, was a founding member of the ADA, and also served on several committees for the GAWDA, and he founded Weldorama, a welding trade show.