Carl Kah Jr. named recipient of IA’s 2019 Board of Directors Award
FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA (July 9, 2019) — The Irrigation Association is excited to announce that Carl Kah Jr. of North Palm Beach, Florida, has been named the recipient of the 2019 Board of Directors Award. The IA’s Board of Directors Award recognizes an individual’s lifelong contributions to the advancement of the irrigation industry.
Kah founded K-Rain in 1974 and continues to serve as the company’s CEO. With more than 100 patents to his name, Kah began his innovation in irrigation technologies with his father in a garage in West Palm Beach, Florida, in the 1940s. Since then, Kah built K-Rain into the company it is today, an “engineering first” company that employs more than 400 people worldwide.
“The irrigation industry is what it is today because of Carl Kah,” said IA CEO Deborah Hamlin, CAE, FASAE. “Not only has Carl’s lifelong commitment to developing new irrigation technologies advanced the industry into the 21st century, he is still a leader today, just as committed to the success of the irrigation industry as he ever has been.”
Kah’s devotion to engineering was not limited to irrigation. After serving in the U.S. Army Artillery corps in the 1950s, Kah joined Pratt Whitney, where he served as a program manager for the Air Force’s reusable rocket engine program. The technology developed during this time was the basis for the engines then used in NASA’s space shuttle program.
“My life has been devoted to innovating and advancing technologies in the irrigation industry,” Kah said. “I thank the Irrigation Association, everyone at K-Rain and my family for all of their help and support over the years. I’m truly honored to be recognized with this prestigious award.”
The Board of Directors Award will be presented to Kah during the general session of the Irrigation Show and Education Week in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 5. More information about the IA awards can be found at www.irrigation.org/awards.