In Memoriam: Bob Affholder

Robert Wilson “Bob” Affholder, founder of the tunnel construction firm Affholder, passed away July 26, 2024, at the age of 88. Born on August 18, 1935, on a farm in rural Kansas, Affholder emerged to become a mainstay in the tunneling and trenchless communities throughout his career.

Affholder’s career began in 1958 as a laborer for Armco Industries Metal Products Division. However, his entrepreneurial spirit led him to start his own tunneling and boring business in 1968, Affholder Inc. He dedicated himself to building an organization of highly skilled, honest, and hardworking people who were committed to solving customers’ problems. These principles have been the foundation of his 50+ year career and helped shape the trenchless industry as we know it today.

​In 1987, Affholder Inc. went public as Insituform Mid-America and later merged to form Insituform Technologies (now Aegion). Affholder served as Vice Chairman and member of the board of directors for 10 years. He was instrumental in the development of the Insituform process, which revolutionized the trenchless industry.

​In 2007, Affholder reunited with former Insituform protégés Jerry Shaw and Tom Kalishman at SAK Construction. The company’s goal was to return to the original roots of Bob’s success – hiring the best talent, creating an environment where people are valued, delivering world-class services, and putting customers first.

​Affholder’s contributions to the trenchless industry have been immense, and his leadership and industry expertise was a valuable asset to SAK Construction and Affholder LLC, formerly the tunneling division of SAK. As an indication of his impact, Affholder was inducted into the North American Society for Trenchless Technology’s Hall of Fame in 2014. His legacy in the tunneling and trenchless industries is undeniable, and his impact will continue to be felt for many years to come.