Obituary: George Palm, longtime Lees executive, 50-year industry veteran

Home News Obituary: George Palm, longtime Lees executive, 50-year industry veteran

LUDINGTON, MICH.—George Alan Palm, a five-decade flooring industry veteran, died Sept. 2 of complications from Alzheimer’s disease. He was 85.

After serving as a B-25 pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II, Palm graduated from Northwestern University in 1949 and joined his mother at The Palm Floor Covering Co.—one of the few women at that time to own and operate a flooring dealership.

Ultimately, he became a sales representative for James Lees & Sons Carpets in 1954, which began an association with the company that lasted more than three decades. After becoming part of Burlington Industries, the company changed its name to Lees Carpets in 1967. Palm worked for Lees as a territory manager for 33 years in Marietta and Columbus, Ohio, and Midland, Mich. Upon retirement in 1987, he was self-employed as a certified carpet inspector until 1999.

“He was well thought of by his customers,” said his wife, Marjorie. “I still occasionally see some of them. He was a true professional. His former customers have said since he retired, nobody has serviced them like George did.”

Joe Eisler, former president of Lees Carpets, said of Palm, “George’s major territory was Columbus, Ohio, where he had the Lazarus department store as an account. At that time in the flooring industry, department stores were king. So George was the key man for one of the larger Lees accounts. He did a fine job. He was very knowledgeable and knew everybody in the store—from the carpet installers to the interior designers to the buyers to the vice presidents, all the way up. He knew his business.”

Palm is survived by Marjorie, his wife of 60 years; two daughters, Kittie Palm-Houser and Ellen Vascik; son George; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Emanuel Lutheran Church, 501 E. Danaher St., Ludington, MI 49431.

Must Read

Analysis of my recent ‘interview’ with ChatGPT

(Part three in a series.) The previous two installments featured my interview with ChatGPT (Floor Covering News, Feb. 20/27 and March 6/13). In this...

AI—It’s amazing and scary at the same time

We are living at a pivotal moment in technology history. Newly released artificial intelligence tools from Microsoft, ChatGPT, Google, Baidu and others are quickly...

Portobello America to unveil new products at Coverings

Orlando, Fla.—Portobello America will showcase eight new product introductions at this year’s Coverings, to be held here April 18-21. The company’s new products, to...

Tarkett’s 2022 CSR Report demonstrates progress on key priorities

Solon, Ohio—Tarkett has released its 2022 Corporate Social & Environmental Responsibility (CSR) Report. Fully audited by an independent third party, the report outlines the...

Carpet One adds slate of new members

Manchester, N.H.— Carpet One Floor & Home continues to expand with the addition of eight new members and nine locations. The new members joined the...

Alliance Flooring 2023 convention kicks off in Texas

Cedar Creek, Texas—Floor Covering News is here for the start of Alliance Flooring’s 26th annual national convention. Themed “The Future is Now,” the convention...
Some text some message..
X