Henry Thomas Loberg, founder and chairman of the board of Hytrol Conveyor Co., passed away on Nov. 8 due to complications from heart surgery. He was 87.

Loberg, known to his colleagues as "Tom," built his first conveyor at the request of a friend to move bags of seed and feed. Though reluctant at first, Loberg eventually agreed. Soon others began asking for one of his conveyors. Loberg started manufacturing a small line of seed and feed units, and Hytrol Conveyor Co. was born.

The company experienced tremendous growth and moved from Wisconsin to Jonesboro, Ark., in 1962. Today, the company that Loberg founded in his basement employs 700 as one of the world's leading conveyor manufacturers.