CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Jack Kahl, who was an inspiration to a generation of Northeast Ohio entrepreneurs and a tireless community volunteer, has died. He died Dec. 30 at age 78.

Kahl was best known locally as the founder of Duck Tape, which Kahl created with a new spin on an old household staple. His version of duct tape was born after Kahl, a graduate of St. Edward’s High School in Lakewood and John Carroll University, started working for a small tape distributor called Melvin Anderson Co. in 1963. Kahl bought the business eight years later and truncated the name to Manco.

Kahl grew Manco from $80,000 in annual revenue as its only salesperson his first year to $800,000 when he bought the company in 1971. Employment grew to 350 and sales skyrocketed to more than $170 million before Kahl sold Manco in 1998 to a German company, Henkel Corp. Kahl sold the company for $116 million and gave 30 percent of it to his employees. He retired from Manco in 2000.

Beyond his business success, Kahl was known as a mentor and cheerleader to hundreds of Northeast Ohio business people.

“He could not have been nicer,” said Umberto Fedeli, CEO of The Fedeli Group insurance firm in Independence, who knew Kahl for three decades. “He was always willing to spend time with people to share his business knowledge and experiences and what he learned from other people too.”

Fedeli said Kahl was known for passing along contact information of people to meet, or the titles of good books to read, or just nuggets of wisdom. “He was willing to share his successes and his failures,” Fedeli said.

Kahl was also known for his generosity and willingness to volunteer and serve entities and companies that were important to him, including both of his alma maters, as well as the Cleveland Clinic.

Jack Kahl, retired CEO of Manco Inc.The Plain Dealer

In a statement, the Cleveland Clinic said Kahl played a “significant role” in its philanthropy efforts and, as the chair of the development committee, he was a leader of the Clinic’s first major campaign called “Securing the 21st Century.” The campaign raised more than $240 million for the Taussig Cancer Center, the Cole Eye Institute and the Lerner Research Institute. Kahl was on the Clinic board of trustees from 2000 to 2005 and also served as a member of the executive committee and the marketing committee. Kahl also became a member of Cleveland Clinic’s 1921 Society through a generous gift to the Taussig Cancer Center in honor of his brother, the hospital said.

Michael Johnson, president of John Carroll, in a statement called Kahl a “visionary leader.”

Kahl often said he was thankful for his Jesuit education, and he was both a fundraiser for and donor to the university.

Doreen Riley, vice president of university advancement at John Carroll University, added in a statement: “Jack's marketing acumen and entrepreneurial spirit grew a local Cleveland company into an international power,” she said.

“John Carroll University, our community and northeast Ohio are all stronger as a result of Jack Kahl’s servant leadership,” Riley said.

Kahl wrote a book on the topic in 2004, calling it “Leading from the Heart: Choosing to be a Servant Leader.” The book was aimed at encouraging leaders to serve others.

Fedeli said Kahl’s generosity stemmed from growing up poor in the projects. “He knew what it was like to be poor, to be someone who suffered, who struggled to pay for education,” Fedeli said. “He wanted to help people who were less fortunate. He never forgot his roots.”

Kahl was known for his entrepreneurial spirit and raw energy. In the 1970s, Kahl secured contracts for Duck Tape from WalMart, Ace Hardware and Kmart.

Kahl embraced becoming a big personality in Cleveland’s business community and enjoyed showcasing Manco’s wacky big yellow duck mascot. Kahl was known for promising to jump into a nearby pond in his Speedo if Manco hit certain sales levels every year. Manco’s fiscal year closed in September, so October wasn’t the best time of year to fulfill that promise, but he did. Another year, he promised to shave his head if the company hit sales goals. It did, and he did.

When Kahl focused on growth in the 1990s, he knew it would take more than duct tape. Manco introduced scores of new products, including Kid’sCRAFT paints and stickers for children, Easy Liner non-adhesive drawer liners and Draft Busters window insulation kits.

Kahl also was involved with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Cleveland and Students in Free Enterprise and served on several corporate boards including American Greetings and the Cleveland Clinic.

Fedeli said Kahl leaves a big legacy in Northeast Ohio. “He loved people, he loved to share, he loved to learn and he loved to teach.”

Kahl is survived by his wife, five children and 14 grandchildren. Services were held Friday.