James H. Schultz, known to friends and colleagues as Jim, a longtime HVAC industry executive who spent more than three decades with Trane and American Standard while helping shape the commercial HVAC market, died June 5, following a battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was 77.

Schultz built a distinguished career spanning 31 years with Trane, where he advanced from sales engineer to become the company's youngest president. Following American Standard's acquisition of Trane, he served as executive vice president and later led the Trane Commercial Air Conditioning Group as president from 1998 to 2001, overseeing the division's profit and loss operations.

Born Oct. 20, 1948, in Sioux City, Iowa, to Gertrude and Herbert Schultz, he earned a degree in industrial engineering from Iowa State University in 1970. The day after graduating, Schultz married his wife, Debbie. The couple shared 56 years of marriage, building a family while living in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Colorado, The Netherlands, New Jersey, and Austin, Texas, where they had lived since 1996.

Throughout his career, Schultz remained deeply involved in the HVAC and broader business community. In addition to his executive leadership at Trane and American Standard, he served as chair and board member of the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) and was a member of the Iowa State University Foundation Board of Governors.

He also served on numerous corporate and nonprofit boards, including Comfort Systems USA, Twin City Fan, Goodman Global, Gundersen Hospital Foundation, Inland Label, Energy Print, and Roundup River Ranch in Colorado, one of Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Camps for children with chronic illnesses—a cause that was especially meaningful to Schultz and his wife.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Schultz was known as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, mentor, and community supporter. 

Schultz is survived by his wife, Debbie; his son, Chris (Hannah); his daughter, Jennifer Goff (Andy); four grandchildren—Kylie, Tyler, Jaxon, and Parker; his sister, Janet Kenien; and numerous extended family members.