Community leader, businessman Mike Purl dies at 71

Madera businessman and community leader Mike Purl died Wednesday, a victim of ALS/Lou Gehrig’s disease.

He was 71.

Purl was born in Madera, went to Madera schools and graduated from Madera Union High School. He received a degree in broadcast communication from Fresno State College in 1967, and later became news director of KFSN-TV, Channel 30, in Fresno, where he implemented the Action News format.

In 1977, he joined his father in Purl’s Sheet Metal, the family business, and eventually became head of the company, which grew under his leadership to be known for innovation. He was inducted into the Carrier air conditioning Hall of Fame in 2010.

Active in many community organizations, he was awarded the Madera Chamber of Commerce’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.

A full obituary for Mr. Purl can be found on Page A2 of this coming weekend's edition of The Madera Tribune.