Thursday, November 19, 2009
Spilman was furniture industry leader
The retired leader of Bassett Furniture was Virginia's Outstanding Industrialist in 1989.
The latest from The Ticker blog
Longtime furniture industry leader Robert "Bob" Spilman Sr., retired chairman and CEO of Bassett Furniture Industries in Bassett, died Sunday. He was 82.
Industry analyst Jerry Epperson said Spilman was among a small group of "dynamic and dominant leaders" in the furniture industry in the 1970s and 1980s.
"Bob was one of those individuals who, if you spent time with him, you never forgot it," Epperson said. "He was insightful, quick-witted and remarkable in how personable he could be. He was absolutely brilliant and inspired the people around him."
Epperson said Clyde Hooker Jr., chairman emeritus of Hooker Furniture Corp. in Martinsville, was a member of the same powerful circle in the furniture industry in the 1970s and 1980s, years that preceded an onslaught of foreign imports.
Hooker is now 88. On Wednesday, he spoke about Spilman.
"Bob was a very active, aggressive manager and very focused on anything he was involved in," Hooker said. "He was a tough but fair competitor. I respected him very much."
Hooker said it was fortunate that Hooker Furniture's products were offered at a different price point than Bassett's.
Epperson said that during Spilman's time at the helm Bassett was the world's largest manufacturer of furniture.
Among a host of other honors, Spilman was a three-time winner of the Wall Street CEO Award for the furniture industry and received the American furniture industry's highest honor, the James T. Ryan Statesman of Commerce Award. In 1989, he was named Virginia's Outstanding Industrialist. He served on numerous corporate and community boards.
He was born in Knoxville, Tenn., in September 1927, and graduated from Augusta Military Academy in Staunton. He served briefly in World War II in the U.S. Army and later served during the Korean War. He graduated from the engineering school of North Carolina State University with a degree in textiles.
He joined Bassett Furniture in 1957 and retired in 1997.
In recent years, like many other domestic furniture manufacturers, Bassett Furniture has experienced tough times, with struggles tied to foreign competition, the recession and other issues -- which include mixed results with Bassett's company-owned or licensed retail stores.
Epperson said Spilman was one of the first U.S. furniture executives to consider adding imports to its domestic lines. But Spilman ultimately decided, at the time, that Bassett could continue to compete as a domestic manufacturer, Epperson said.
Spilman's survivors include his wife, Jane Bassett Spilman -- a granddaughter of J. D. Bassett Sr., one of three founders of Bassett Furniture Industries -- as well as three children and nine grandchildren.
Son Robert Spilman Jr. has been the company's president and CEO since 2000, having previously served since 1997 as president and chief operating officer.
Hooker said he and Bob Spilman Sr. had a friendly relationship in spite of competition between Bassett and Hooker Furniture.
"We will miss him," Hooker said. "And our industry will miss him."
Funeral and memorial services include a memorial service at noon Saturday in Martinsville at Christ Episcopal Church.
