Ed Malzahn was a third-generation resident of Perry, Oklahoma. He was an engineer, an innovator, and a strong leader. He was a husband, father, and grandfather. Most people remember him for being a successful entrepreneur and business owner. But to those who really knew Ed, he will be remembered for the love he had for his hometown. During the 1940s, Mr. Malzahn transformed a family blacksmith business into a company called Charles Machine Works, which evolved into an industry leader in trenching equipment.
He eventually made a global impact in the industry when he developed the world’s first service-line trencher, known today as Ditch Witch. Perry and its citizens always held a special place in the hearts of Ed and his wife Mary. And they knew they wanted to impact their community in a positive way. In 1992, the Malzahns established the Malzahn Family Affiliated Fund with the Oklahoma City Community Foundation to help support organizations throughout Perry that mattered to them.
Jennifer Stewart is the Senior Director of Donor Services with OCCF, and has been working with the Malzahn family to help steward that support. Through the Malzahn Family Affiliated Fund, the Malzahns’ impact will continue for generations, lifting up Perry and making it a better place to call home. Rick Johnson has known the Malzahn Family for many years and he worked for Charles Machine Works as their CEO.
Now retired, Rick now serves as a trustee for the Oklahoma City Community Foundation and works as the primary contact for the Malzahn Family Affiliated Fund. A lot of people talked about Ditch Witch being Ed’s legacy. Perry is actually Ed’s legacy. That company, as Ed would tell you, belonged to the employees, to the city of Perry, and if there’s anything left over— the family.
And that was where his heart was at. One of the organizations that has benefited from their generosity is the Noble County Family YMCA. Ed and Mary wanted to ensure The Y would continue to thrive, so they made sure the town of Perry had a first-class YMCA, thanks to grants made from the Malzahn Family Affiliated Fund through the Oklahoma City Community Foundation.
Our goal is to have The Y be the heart of our community, a place where you can come work out, a place where you can come hang out. The goal for our community is to have that gathering place, and we’re happy that The Y has become that. Some of the other areas meaningful to the Malzahns include Perry Public Schools, where they supported the funding of a new high school auditorium, as well as many other school projects.
And anyone who visits Perry will see their charming downtown square on Main Street. The Malzahns’ fund continues to support improvements made throughout Main Street to enhance the quality of life for its citizens. Ed and Mary, you know, they wanted Perry to to thrive. And the school system was a big part of that. And so not only thrive, but when kids graduate, I believe Ed and Mary wanted to see them come back to Perry and raise a family there and have their kids go to school there, work there.
The school system is a huge part of that. The community loves that our downtown is still as active and as preserved as it is, and it wouldn’t be what it is without Ed and Mary. Together, we can build a stronger, more supportive community for everyone. If you want to make a difference, join us. Your Oklahoma City Community Foundation will help you make it happen. Ed and Mary Malzahn created a legacy that is the glue that holds the community of Perry together.
