Effective April 1, 2017, William E. Crow retired as Chief Executive Officer of Friedman Industries, Incorporated. He continues to serve the company as a director and as a consultant. On March 30, 2017, Robert Sparkman was elected by the Board of Directors of the company to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the company, effective April 1, 2017.

Mr. Sparkman has served as the company's President and Chief Operating Officer since April 1, 2016. Mr. Sparkman previously served as Senior Vice President of Operations from April 2015 to March 2016, Vice President of Sales for the company's coil division between 2002 and March 2015 and has been employed by the company since 1979, providing him with over 37 years of experience with both the company's coil and tubular divisions.