MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Industry veteran John St. John, who was an executive at companies such as Pilliod and Progressive Furniture, died Aug. 31 at his home here. He was 84.
He was born June 18, 1936, and spent his career following in the footsteps of his father, Joe St. John, of Memphis Furniture. After serving in the U.S. Army, he joined Memphis Furniture, learning the business from his father until he left the company in the early 1960s. He then served as a marketing executive at Ward Furniture until the late 1960s.
He founded El Dorado Inds. with John Hoover in the early 1970s, and the pair later sold this to Pilliod, where St. John was executive vice president.
St. John and Pete Pilliod later acquired a controlling interest in Progressive Furniture around 1990, and he served as executive vice president.
“He, and his partner of more than 40 years, Pete Pilliod, defined promotional case goods for many years at both Pilliod, and then Progressive Furniture Manufacturing,” his son, John St. John, Jr. wrote. “He loved marketing and selling furniture, he loved people.”
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Linda Komdat St. John; his sons, John St. John Jr., Joe St. John, Jay St. John and daughter Jessica St. John Marshall; six grandchildren and a sister. He was preceded in death by his sister Joan St. John Curtner.
The post John St. John dies at 84 appeared first on Furniture Today.