AUSTIN, TEX.—William Warne, owner of Action Cleaning & Restoration here and long time member of the Restoration Industry Association (RIA), died July 24. He was 57.
Born Nov. 1, 1953, in Nashville, Tenn., Warne served RIA’s predecessor, ASCR, for many years in a variety of capacities, most notably as president of the Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Institute from 1994 to 1996 and as the president of ASCR in 2002.
Warne’s vision for the organization was to have ASCR and its members recognized as the leading authorities in “healing” homes and businesses impacted by floods, fire, IAQ and other issues, said RIA’s Patricia Harman, editor-in-chief of Cleaning & Restoration Magazine. “He was one of the first individuals to introduce the idea of ‘cleaning for health’ in the context of restoration.
“Bill saw the potential for RIA (then ASCR) and how our members positively impact their customers’ lives on many lev- els. He was a huge proponent of cleaning for health before it became popular in the industry. He did things because they were the right things to do, not for the attention he might get for doing them. He served this industry in many ways, and did it because he loved it and the people in it.”
Ken Adams, owner of ABC Services of Ithaca, N.Y., worked alongside Warne on ASCR’s board for three years. “Bill was a kind hearted and gentle man with a great sense of humor. He was serious about his business and always involved with family and congregation.”
Tim Horrigan of Horrigan Cleaners in Gardner, Mass., noted that outside of running a successful cleaning and restora- tion firm, Warne was committed to education. “He carried that passion of education throughout his tenure with ASCR. I was very proud to serve with him on its board.”
Warne’s survivors include his wife, Estie Santoy; two sons, Christopher (Tara) and Stephen; daughter, Elizabeth (Terry) Daily; and sister, Lisa Ross