Highland business leader Ed Frisse passes away
Edwin “Ed” Frisse, longtime owner of Highland Machine, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 3 at Faith Care Center in Highland. He was 93.
Mr. Frisse graduated from St. Paul High School in 1940. He served in the 11th Armored Division during World War II, with duty in Europe, fighting in the Battle of the Bulge.
When he returned from the war, he began a 51-year career with the Highland Machine and Screw Co. He starting as a bookkeeper in 1946. He was named vice president in 1952, and in 1963, he purchased a controlling interest in the company.
“He was a wonderful, wonderful man, and I’m lucky to have worked with him for 39 1/2 years,” said Terry Riffel, who began his own career at the company as a secretary and would eventually become 20-year partner in the business with Frisse.
“Ed was like a dad to me — a mentor and a great role model,” said Riffel, who retired from the company in 2001.
Under Frisse’s leadership, Highland Machine and Screw became the leading supplier of hydraulic lifts and hair dryers to the barber and beauty industry, which is still a major part of the company’s business.
Now known as Highland Machine, the company employs about 80 people. It also provides fabrication, machining and finishing services to companies in a wide variety of industries and offers a full range of services from engineering to assembly.
Mr. Frisse still retained the title of chairman of the board at Highland Machine and went to the office six days a week until two months ago. He was elected to the Highland Illinois Area School Alumni Association Hall of Fame in 2008 in the group’s business category.
A self-made man who came from a poor farming family, Mr. Frisse was always looking to help others along the way. In addition to running his own company, Mr. Frisse helped others get their start in Highland, including Tri-Onics, Devtron, and Highland Spring & Specialties.
“He encouraged them and invested in them,” Riffel said.
“He was just a great guy to know and to do business with. Highland is going to miss him,” said Mike Kilgore, who Frisse partnered with in 1986 to start Highland Spring & Specialties.
Kilgore said Mr. Frisse was a great “sounding board,” who mentored many Highland business owners.
“He was always a person you could go and talk to and bounce ideas off of, and he would give you ideas on how to do things,” Kilgore said.
Mr. Frisse was also an active the community as a member of St. Paul Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, American Legion, VFW, and the Highland Area Community Foundation, in addition to many other organizations and causes.
“He was very good to the community,” Riffel said.
Mr. Frisse was named the Highland Chamber of Commerce’s Bob Hardy Citizen of the Year in 1998.
This story was originally published December 9, 2015 at 3:14 AM with the headline "Highland business leader Ed Frisse passes away."