Born in 1912 in Springfield, Ill., Long came of age during one of the most difficult and defining periods of American history. In 1940, he enlisted in the army as an aircraft mechanic. He later attended flight school and received his wings as a P-47 fighter-bomber pilot in 1943. Long went on to earn 16 Air Medals, a Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross after flying 100 missions over France, Belgium and Germany. In 1945, Long left military service as a highly decorated captain, but continued serving for 35 years in the Air Force Reserves.

Long accumulated many industry honors during his distinguished career, including the Steel Founders’ Society of America “Gold Award.” He was also recognized among the industry’s 100 most significant contributors by the Equipment Manufacturers Institute (now the Association of Equipment Manufacturers) in 1994, along with fellow honoree Henry Ford.