Samuel Meyer Kogutt, who founded Dallas, Texas, distributor Dart Manufacturing Company together with his late wife, Irene Kogutt, MAS, passed away on December 9, his birthday, due to complications from COVID-19. He was 95.
Born in Bay City, Texas, Kogutt enrolled in the University of Texas at Austin in 1942 and six weeks later was called into the Army Special Reserve Training Program and assigned to the 97th Infantry Division. He was honorably discharged as a Private 1st Class in 1946. During his service in the Army, he participated in the liberation of Flossenburg concentration camp for which he was recognized by the state of Texas and Czech Republic. He graduated from U.T. Austin with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in May 1949.
Kogutt moved to Dallas after college and worked as a production manager for Plastic Products Company. He met Irene in 1950 and they were married for 68 years. They started Dart Manufacturing in 1965. It developed and manufactured promotional, leather, vinyl and fabric products. Kogutt also held several patents under his name for inventions he developed.
An avid fisherman, Kogutt named his boat “Reenie” after his wife and distributed his catch throughout the neighborhood. The Kogutts also traveled extensively, including to Africa, Israel and France, and were dedicated members of the Jewish community and Congregation Shearith Israel.
Kogutt is predeceased by Irene, who passed away in 2018, his parents and his four siblings. He is survived by his children: Randy and his wife Niloufer, Jeff and his wife Judy, and Michael; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Donations in Kogutt’s memory may be sent to Jewish Family Services or the Akiba/Yavneh Academy.
