John Groendyke, Former Groendyke CEO, Dies at 81

John Groendyke, the former chairman and CEO of Groendyke Transport and past chairman of the National Tank Truck Carriers, has died at the age of 81. Groendyke took over the company after the death of his father, Harold, who founded the carrier in 1932. During his tenure, Groendyke expanded the company nationally, emphasizing safety, service, employee engagement, and quality management. He introduced a formal Deming quality management system and sought to understand all aspects of the business, often visiting terminals and talking to employees, mechanics, and drivers. Groendyke remained chairman of the board after handing over day-to-day responsibilities in 2001 and continued to be involved in the company. He was also a collector of antique cars, watches, and shotguns, and an avid outdoorsman, rancher, and conservationist. Groendyke served as an Oklahoma wildlife commissioner for 44 years and worked with The Nature Conservancy to protect the state’s landscapes. He is survived by his wife, four children, 12 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.