GREGORY, S.D. — Elmer Karl, the founder and longtime president of Karl’s TV & Appliance, has died at the age of 94.
Karl died Wednesday evening, July 15, in his hometown of Gregory, surrounded by family, according to company officials.
Karl founded Karl’s TV & Appliance on April 12, 1956, after returning to Gregory following military service and technical training. With a $2,000 loan co-signed by his father, Karl opened a small television and radio repair shop that grew into one of the Midwest’s largest independent appliance and electronics retailers.
The company, which is celebrating its 70th year in business in 2026, now has more than 30 locations across seven states.
Karl became a familiar face to generations of South Dakotans through the company’s television commercials and the slogan, “Your servicing dealer since 1956.”
Born and raised on a farm near Gregory, Karl graduated from Gregory High School before serving in the U.S. Army. He was trained in electronics and spent 13 months in Korea. After his military service, he attended DeVry Technical Institute in Chicago and worked as a television technician before returning home to start his business.
Karl was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in 2008 in the professional category. Throughout his career, he received numerous honors, including South Dakota Retailer of the Year, the Larry Blumenthal Award and the MARTA dealer award.
Beyond his business success, Karl was active in his community, serving as a Gregory city councilman and mayor, and participating in numerous civic organizations.
Karl’s legacy includes not only the growth of Karl’s TV & Appliance, but also his efforts to support economic development and community projects in Gregory.
He is survived by his son, Michael, daughter Sandy, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.