Kendall began his fluid power career in 1946 with Greer Hydraulics in Long Island, N.Y., after having served as a test pilot with the U . S . Navy. He was vice president of engineering and sales at Greer, which gave him room to develop applications for test stands and bladder accumulators.
He remained in this role until 1957, when he started Kenett Corp. in the Boston area. Kenett, a manufacturer and distributor of hydraulic components and systems, grew to become a 75-employee company until it was sold in 1991 to The Entwistle Co., Hudson, Mass., a military contractor and manufacturer. Kendall was vice president of Entwistle until his death.
Kendall was instrumental in the design of hundreds of pieces of equipment for the U.S. Navy and commercial applications that are still in use today and still being manufactured by Entwistle.
Kendall was a pivotal leader in the development of modern accumulators, says his son Rick, vice president and general manager of Accumulators Inc., Houston.
He is remembered fondly by many in the industry, including Jeffrey A. Schneider, president, CEO, Accumulators Inc. "Jules was instrumental in the development of the fluid power industry," says Schneider. "His numerous patents and innovations have helped shape our business. He had been particularly influential in the development of the bladder accumulator market. He has meant a lot to me, and to Accumulators Inc."
Kendall contributed many times to H&P over the past 50 years.
