Leon Morel Sr. (far left), his dad (next to him) and brother (other side of the casting) as well. Pictured with the bust of Chief Seattle.
HISTORY
The Morels have been in the foundry industry for four generations. It all started in Paris with their great grandfather, and their grandfather Leon Morel, Sr. In the late 1800s Leon Sr. was an indentured servant in the Rudier Foundry in Paris, France, where most all of the Rodin bronzes were poured. This is where he learned his skill as a foundryman and artist.
After eight years of servitude he took his consummate skill and immigrated to the United States. In the early 1900s, Leon Sr. worked for two foundries in Seattle; Cascade and NePage-McKinney. Cascade Foundry poured artistic castings and NePage-McKinney produced light standards for the electrification of cities on the West coast. By 1917, Leon Sr. owned both foundries and renamed them Morel Foundry.
Fountain in front of the Intiman Theatre
Bust of Chief Seattle in Pioneer Square
Leon Morel Sr.
Works by the founding Morel
Façade to the Volunteer Park Building
Leon Morel Jr.
Expanding the Vision
Following World War II, Leon Morel Jr. and Archie Powell took over the foundry from Leon Sr. Together, they led the company through a period of remarkable growth, laying the groundwork for Morel’s reputation as a leader in the casting industry.
Leon Jr. was known for his forward-thinking approach and technical innovation. He was the first on the West Coast to install a shell core machine—used to produce the distinctive golden brown sand cores—and also brought in the first heat treat furnace for a foundry in the region. These advancements opened the door for Morel to handle more complex, high-performance castings and stay ahead of evolving industry demands.
Under his leadership, the company became the exclusive supplier of aluminum castings for every Kenworth Truck produced worldwide. Morel also became a key player in military manufacturing, producing castings for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, M113 Armored Personnel Carrier, Paladin Gun System, and other defense systems through partnerships with FMC and UDLP.
By the time Leon Jr. retired, Morel was serving some of the biggest names in industry, including John Deere Engine Works, Freightliner, Garrett/Allied Signal, Caterpillar, MARCO Marine, Western Star Trucks, Gillig Bus, Mack Truck, and Peterbilt.
Leon Jr.’s dedication to innovation and quality helped shape Morel’s legacy—and continues to influence the company’s work today.
African American Museum on the DC Mall façade
Award winning piece by Steve
Steve & Mark Morel
Carrying the Torch, Forging New Paths
Brothers Steve and Mark Morel grew up immersed in the rhythm of the foundry, working alongside their father, Leon Jr., and witnessing firsthand the pride and precision that built Morel Industries into a trusted name. When it came time to lead, they didn’t just preserve the legacy—they expanded it.
Building on the foundation laid by their father and grandfather, Steve and Mark continued relationships with industry giants like John Deere Engine Works, Freightliner, Caterpillar, Peterbilt, Mack, MARCO Marine, and Gillig Bus. But they also pushed Morel into exciting new territory, partnering with innovators like MORPAC, Tri-Tec Manufacturing, Nu-Torque/Curtiss-Wright, Leonardo/DRS, and Northern Lights.
Their leadership brought Morel castings into the worlds of public infrastructure, marine, defense, and even entertainment. From custom pieces for Walt Disney World’s Cars Land and Star Wars attractions, to municipal projects with the City of Seattle and design collaborations with Iron Age Designs, Morel's reach now touches every corner of American industry.
Steve, inheriting a touch of his grandfather Leon Sr.’s artistic eye, has also carved out a reputation of his own—literally. His sculptural work and artistic castings have earned recognition and awards, blending form and function in ways that honor the family’s creative legacy.
Under Steve and Mark’s guidance, Morel Industries continues to thrive at the intersection of tradition, innovation, and craftsmanship.