Local business owner, retired sergeant major dies Posted On: Friday, Oct. 9 2009 01:39 AM By Matt Goodman
Killeen Daily Herald

Retired Army sergeant major and Killeen business owner Sam Kanouse died in his Salado home Tuesday from leukemia.

Kanouse, who arrived in Killeen from Korea when he was 12, retired from the military in 2000 after 25 years of service. He returned to Central Texas and started Management Training Consultants Inc. in Killeen. His consultant firm has more than 200 government and private contacts.

Kanouse was a member of the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce and was instrumental in the creation of the Defense Contractors Council, which has grown to have more than 100 registered members.

"Sam was a homegrown product," said GKCC President John Crutchfield. "He went off and joined the Army, started a business, brought it back to the community and was very interested in having a thriving business in this community."

Crutchfield offered Kanouse a spot on the board of directors with the Killeen Chamber, but he had just been diagnosed with leukemia and could not accept the position.

"It's a very tragic loss for a lot of different reasons," Crutchfield said.

Bruce Zielsdorf, civilian deputy public information officer at Fort Hood, spoke of Kanouse's motivation to overcome diversity. Kanouse came to Central Texas unable to speak English, but persevered and earned a high rank in the military and established a successful company.

"He volunteered tirelessly with organizations from Salado to Killeen through Fort Hood," he said. "It's just a phenomenal but quiet and enduring impact that will be positively felt for a long time. He will be deeply missed."

Kanouse was a generous person with both time and money, donating much of each to the community where he lived, said Harker Heights Mayor Ed Mullen.

"He was just a very, very nice person. I miss him, I sure miss him," Mullen said. "My brother died two or three years ago from the same exact thing. I know what Sam was going through, and I feel very sorry for him and for his family."

Funeral services will be at 9 a.m. Saturday at Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home, at 1615 S. Fort Hood St. in Killeen.