July 6, 2023

Obituary: Tom Graham, Legendary Steel Turnaround Artist

Thomas Carlisle Graham passed away on July 3, 2023, in Naples, Fla., at the age of 96. He is survived by his devoted wife of 75 years, Irene Wallace Graham, and four children – Susan Scheessele, Naples, Fla.; Thomas Graham Jr., Mason, Ohio; John Graham, Bloomington, Ind.; and Sara Balough, Los Angeles.

Tom was born and raised in Greensburg, Pa. After graduating from Greensburg High School, Tom was accepted into the Navy V-12 program, and he attended the University of Louisville during World War II. In 1947, he graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering and embarked on a career spanning more than 50 years in the American steel industry, starting as a draftsman. A year later, he married his high school sweetheart, Irene.

Michael Cowden

Michael Cowden is editor-in-chief for Steel Market Update. Cowden has covered the steel industry since 2007. He specializes in flat-rolled steel but has also reported on steel long products, steel pipe and tube, and aluminum. Before joining SMU, Cowden held reporting jobs at Fastmarkets AMM in Chicago, the Associated Press in Pittsburgh, and the Cambodia Daily in Phnom Penh. He has also worked as a copy editor and in marketing at the University of Chicago Press. Cowden has a BA in English from the University of Chicago and an MSJ journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Contact him at michael@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7872.