SAVANNAH, Ga. — Former Great Dane president and chief operating officer Phillip Pines has died after a plane crash near Racine, Wis. on Monday evening. He was 76.

“Phill’s contributions to the success of Great Dane were many, including his unrelenting focus and drive to grow the company and solidify its preeminent position in our industry,” said William “Bill” Crown, president and CEO of Great Dane Limited Partnership. “He left an indelible mark on our company, successfully ingraining into the organization a culture of strength and excellence. I speak for our board of directors and employees in saying we are deeply saddened by his passing. Phill will be truly missed, and our deepest sympathies go out to his wife, Joan, and the Pines family.”

Pines began his career in the trailer industry in 1958 working alongside his father, Leo Pines, at their Monon Trailer dealership. There, he and his father began refurbishing used trailers and soon after started their own trailer company, Pines Trailer Corporation in 1965.

Pines led his family-owned business, Pines Trailer Corporation, for 25 years before forming a Partnership with the Crown Family in 1988. In January 1997, the Partnership acquired Great Dane Trailers, and he assumed the role of president and COO of Great Dane Limited Partnership. Pines retired at the end of 2010.