Retired Bassett Furniture CEO
Monday, November 16, 2009
Robert H. “Bob” Spilman, the retired president, chairman and CEO of Bassett Furniture Industries, died Sunday night in Richmond.
According to a company biography, Spilman led the company during a period of “dramatic change, including the growth of warehouse showrooms, captive distribution, imports and other issues. Under his guidance, Bassett became a full line manufacturer by adding recliners and motion, home office, bedding, and a highly regarded line of youth and infant furniture.”
Spilman and the company received many business awards: Wall Street Transcript No. 1 Award of Furniture Industry, 1981, 1982, 1992; Man of the Year Award, Home Furnishings Association of Delaware Valley, 1982; James T. Ryan Award Statesman of Commerce, 1983; Heck Ford Award from the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of , 1995.
He also was inducted into the Furniture Hall of Fame in 2005.
Spilman was a graduate of Augusta Military Academy, attended Davidson College, and later received a bachelor’s from NC State.
He began his career at Cannon Mills before joining Bassett. He became its president in the early 1970s, and remained at the helm into the 1990s.
Funeral arrangements will be posted on this site and in Wednesday’s Martinsville Bulletin.
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