Fomer ALOA president Henry (Hank) Printz, CML, passed away on Sept. 20, 2011, after a long battle with cancer.
“ESO” has become a code used when a service call has resulted in a technician’s wasted effort due to the originator’s ineptitude or general ignorance and stands for “Equipment Superior to Operator.” It definitely does not, however, apply to the life of Hank Printz. Nothing could manage to become superior to Hank, be it a lock, a computer, an 18-wheeler, a committee, nor a dictum from Robert’s Rules of Order which he could quote chapter and verse, much to the consternation of some fellow committee members.
Hank was an original Renaissance Man having served in Korea, returning to the states to drive an 18-wheeler cross county, joining Cy Drake Locksmith Company in Morristown NJ as a full partner, serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the Associated Locksmiths of America as well as its Northeast Vice President and, finally, its President. In between time, he managed to serve as President of the Safe and Vault Technicians Association as well as local locksmith associations.
Recipient of several prestigious national awards including the Philadelphia Award and the ALOA President’s Award, Hank was the holder of the first Certified Master Locksmith (CML) designation awarded by the ALOA Proficiency Registration Program (PRP) which he was instrumental in creating.
During his time on the ALOA Board, the association navigated through major changes which resulted in a large membership growth and the dawn of professionalism for its members.
Henry is survived by Jong, his wife of 48 years, his daughter Alice, two grandchildren and a multitude of friends from within our industry, both here and abroad.
-- Breck H. Camp, CML
