CUMMING, Ga.—William “Bill” Levensalor, an innovator in the conveyor belting industry and founder of Belt Corp. of America, died Nov. 16 at his home in Cumming.
Born Aug. 26, 1944, in Springfield, Mass., he grew up in Cromwell, Conn., and entered the U.S. Army in 1968. After serving in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Bronze Star, and receiving his honorable discharge, he returned to Alfred University where he graduated with a bachelor's of science degree and met his future wife, Maureen, whom he married in 1971.
After college, Levensalor worked for industrial belting companies before launching Cumming-based Belt Corp. of America in 1985. For the next 29 years, he built the business into one of the best specialty belt manufacturing and custom belt fabricating operations in the industry.
Its product range includes standard timing and flat belts along with those designed for unique applications.
“I met Bill prior to his founding of Belt Corp. of America,” recalled Jeff Leach, chairman and chief operating officer of Passaic Rubber Co. in Wayne, N.J.
“He had an aspiration to be his own boss and ventured south with his wife, Maureen, and their two sons to follow his dream. On my first visit to his plant, I saw Maureen handling the office duties with a playpen set up in the corner.
“Bill drove that business hard. He was honest, dedicated, a great salesman and very dependable. His business grew, and he was a good customer of Passaic.
“My wife Cheryl and I looked forward to the NIBA meetings every year where we would get together with Bill and Maureen to discuss business as well as spend social time together. He was a good friend, and we will miss him.”
Levensalor sold the company to Megadyne S.p.A. in late August 2014.
He was active in the community. He coached his three sons in soccer during a 25-year period and was co-founder of the first soccer association in Forsyth County, Ga.
A long-time member of NIBA—the Belting Association, Levensalor was active in the county Chamber of Commerce, where he served on the board of directors, and the Athletic Committee of Lakeview Academy in Gainesville, Ga. In addition, he was on the Lanier Tech Business Advisory Board and a member of the Rotary International.
He is survived by his wife Maureen; sons, Randy of Boulder, Colo., Adam (Stefanie) of Norfolk, Va., and Alex of Atlanta; three granddaughters; and sister Martha Ann Field of Auburn, Maine.