Karl Schwarzl was the ‘gravel baron’ whose name is still characteristic of Styria today: the Styrian entrepreneur and former mayor of the municipality of Laßnitzhöhe has now died at the age of 95.
The heart of a great entrepreneur no longer beats: Karl Schwarzl died in Laßnitzhöhe, where he was once mayor, almost two weeks before his 96th birthday. With the Schwarzl gravel and concrete works he made a name for himself as a “gravel baron” far beyond the country’s borders. This was followed by the Schwarzl Clinic and of course the lake named after him in the south of Graz – today the Schwarzl Leisure Centre. The exceptional entrepreneur also received the Grand Decoration of Honor from the state of Styria in 1984.
Drexler: “Incredible life’s work”
Politicians had only words of praise for Schwarzl: “He was the embodiment of the Styrian entrepreneurial spirit. A person for whom hard work and achievement were always central, which allowed him to achieve an incredible life’s work,” said State Governor Christopher Drexler (ÖVP). His deputy Anton Lang added: “Styria will always be grateful to Karl Schwarzl for his achievements and will always preserve his memory. My sincere condolences go out to his family, to whom I wish much strength in this difficult time.”
And for Economic Affairs Minister Barbara Eibinger-Miedl, Styria is losing an “outstanding entrepreneurial personality” in Karl Schwarzl. With his efforts as an entrepreneur and until recently as a supporter of company founders, he has made an enormous contribution to Styria as a business location.”
The funeral will take place on Saturday, November 23 in the parish church of Laßnitzhöhe. A farewell is possible the Friday before from 9:00 am in the funeral hall.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
