Furniture industry icon and philanthropist, Hassell Franklin, dies at 87

HOUSTON, Pass up. — Hassell Franklin, the founder and chairman of Franklin Corp. and a focused philanthropist, died Sunday, Jan. 22. He was 87 several years aged.

Franklin graduated in 1953 from Tupelo High University and attained a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering from Mississippi State College in 1959. In addition, he served in the U.S. Army.

Franklin launched Franklin Corp., the movement and stationary upholstery company, in Houston, Skip., in 1970, providing home furnishings throughout the world. Franklin designed the business from a compact, household-operate concern to just one of the biggest privately held furniture makers in the nation. Together the way, he also was a dedicated philanthropist, supporting many area and market-associated instructional and philanthropic efforts.

At the time of his induction into the Dwelling Furnishings Corridor of Fame in 2013, the HFA pointed out Franklin’s progressive strategic organizing as the resource of his achievements in the home furniture industry. With a “visionary use of vertical integration and lean manufacturing approaches,” he was between the very first in the sector to transform the body mill from a handbook slice-and-sew procedure to a additional effective laptop or computer-pushed program.

Through Franklin’s leadership, Franklin Corp’s operations grew to consist of a metallic-stamping facility, foam fabrication plant, dimension mill, recliner plant, movement couch plant and a logistics enterprise with a exploration and progress office.

A powerful supporter of the furniture market, Franklin founded a $1 million endowment at Mississippi Point out College to aid develop the Franklin Furnishings Institute, a study and coaching heart for the household furniture industry.

Franklin served as president and board member of the American Home furnishings Manufacturers Assn. (precursor to the American House Furnishings Alliance) and a board member of the Home furniture Foundation and the Mississippi Manufacturing Assn.

Franklin obtained the AHFA Distinguished Service Award in 2009 and the Marketplace Provider Award from the Upholstered Home furnishings Motion Council. He was also elected to the Mississippi Small business Hall of Fame. He was a earlier director of the Household Furnishings Companies Assn., Southern Furniture Producers Assn., Mississippi Brands Assn. and Mississippi Economic Council.

Franklin’s company and accolades are expansive. He was the Mississippi Point out Alumnus of the Year in 1995 and the Itawamba Community College or university Alumnus of the 12 months. He was previous president and board member of Create Basis, the biggest group foundation in Mississippi, and was a big supporter of the Boys’ and Girls’ Club, Regional Rehabilitation Centre, United Way of Northeast Mississippi and Sanctuary Hospice Home.

He served as lead director of BancorpSouth, as well as on the boards of the Mississippi Financial Council, North Mississippi Health Solutions, the Northeast Mississippi Each day Journal Publishing Co., Journal Publishing Houston, Commission on the Upcoming of Northeast Mississippi and the Local community Enhancement Basis and Group Relations Assn.

He also has served on the boards of the Mississippi Condition University Advancement Foundation and its Athletic Foundation, and the Itawamba Neighborhood Higher education Foundation. He also served on the MSU’s Home furnishings Advisory Board and the College of Small business and Industry’s Govt Advisory Board.

Preparations are incomplete and will be declared later by Pegues Funeral Directors. Expressions of sympathy and fond memories might be shared at www.peguesfuneralhome.com.