On July 23, 2025, our founder, Victor Alfred Sahm Jr., passed away peacefully at the age of 91. With his family by his side, Vic left this world as he lived in it—surrounded by love, strengthened by faith, and with a life full of extraordinary achievements.
At DuraPlas, we feel the weight of this loss deeply. Vic was never just the man who started our company. He was a mentor, a leader, and a friend. His spirit is woven into every corner of this business, and his impact will continue to shape us for generations to come.
Born in San Antonio in 1933, Vic grew up in a modest home he helped his father build. Those early experiences instilled in him the values of hard work, resourcefulness, and perseverance. After high school, he served honorably in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal.
Following his service, Vic returned home and pursued a business degree at Trinity University through the GI Bill. It was there that his path toward leadership and entrepreneurship truly began. His career first took him to Union Carbide, where he gained experience in sales and business management. It also brought him to Atlanta, where a simple knock on a neighbor’s door to borrow ice introduced him to the love of his life, Bobbi. They married just six months later and built a family defined by devotion, resilience, and adventure.
Vic had a knack for seeing potential where others didn’t. While making sales calls in the late 1960s, he noticed cattle eating from heavy, rust-prone metal molasses containers. He believed there was a better way and envisioned a product made of durable plastic instead. With determination and the support of an early business partner, he launched what would become DuraPlas in 1969.
What started as a single product grew into a company that today spans more than 500,000 square feet of manufacturing and distribution, serving customers in over 100 countries. Vic’s relentless commitment to innovation and quality transformed DuraPlas into a global enterprise. Yet even as the company grew, he never lost sight of the principle that mattered most: putting people first.
Vic’s leadership extended far beyond strategy and innovation. For more than five decades, he created an environment where people were valued, supported, and encouraged to grow. He believed in giving people opportunities to succeed—even when they didn’t yet believe in themselves.
Even in his later years, Vic could often be found walking the halls of the company, greeting employees by name and asking about their families. Many of us here can point to careers—and lives—shaped by his encouragement. He was as much a mentor as he was a founder, and his steady presence made this company not just a workplace, but a family.
Vic’s accomplishments extended beyond the walls of DuraPlas. His contributions to plastics innovation earned him a place in the Texas State Museum in Austin, where his exhibit stood alongside one honoring his brother, the renowned musician Doug Sahm. An avid adventurer and sportsman, Vic traveled the world—from Antarctica to the Amazon to Mount Everest—often accompanied by his son, Beaude.
Above all, Vic cherished his family. He and Bobbi were married for 60 years, raised two children, and delighted in their seven grandchildren. Whether at their ranch in Kerrville, Texas, or their home in Palm Desert, California, “Papa” and “Meme” created countless memories rooted in love, faith, and generosity.
Today, DuraPlas continues under the leadership of Vic’s son, Beaude, and now the family’s third generation. The business that began with a single idea and a determination to do things better has become a global brand that remains family-owned and deeply guided by Vic’s vision.
Vic’s life is a reminder of what’s possible with grit, humility, and faith. From a modest home in San Antonio to a global enterprise serving customers in more than 100 countries, his story embodies the very spirit of American entrepreneurship.
Though we mourn his passing, we celebrate the legacy he leaves behind—a company built not just on products, but on people; not just on innovation, but on values. At DuraPlas, we will honor him by continuing the work he began, keeping the chain unbroken, and carrying his vision into the future.