Kevin O’Leary of Miller Paint Company will receive the 2019 Samson-Adler Award on Tuesday morning. O’Leary began his career in the paint and coatings industry in the Seattle/Tacoma area at Todd Chemical/Enterprises in 1976 after serving four years in the U.S. Air Force. He worked there until 1982. He moved to Portland in 1982 to work for John Daller II at McCloskey Varnish Company. He worked there until 1990 after it was sold to McWhorter. In 1991 he went to work for Miller Paint Company. He followed John Daller II as Technical Director for Miller Paint in 2008.
O’Leary became an active member of the PNWSCT in 1982. He spent eight years on the Board, two of them as President. He was a committee member of several PNWSCT Symposiums. He chaired the 2010 Show in Portland. He taught a Paint Basics Course at two of those Symposiums.
O’Leary is a past Technical Chairman of the Guild CPO and Color Guild. He has put together many industry golf tournaments over the years. He has chaired the Annual Portland Charity Classic for Make-A-Wish for the past 25 years. That golf tournament has helped raise over 105K for that charity.
His hobbies include golf and his house, which has been in the remodel state since 1995. He has 3 children and 5 grandchildren. O’Leary hopes to retire within two years. He hopes to continue to support the industry and charities.