Durham's Orville Mead dies
By Michael J. Knell -- Furniture Today, January 27, 2002
DURHAM, Ontario — Canadian furniture industry stalwart Orville Mead, former chairman of Durham Furniture, has died after a long battle with cancer. He was 63.
Mead, who retired from the company on Jan. 1, was with Durham for almost 43 years. He joined the company in 1959 and was named production manager in 1965 and plant manager three years later. In 1979, he was named vice president and general manager of what was then the case goods division of the Kroehler Furniture Co.
Four years later, Mead was named president of the Canadian division of Kroehler, which gave him responsibility for eight furniture plants. In February 1992, Kroehler's parent, Strathearn House Group, went into receivership and the Durham, Ontario, plant was closed. In June of that year, Mead and a small group of investors acquired the plant and it resumed operations as Durham Furniture, specializing in upper-medium to high-end, solid-wood bedroom furniture.
Mead was named president of the new company. In September 2000 he become chairman and chief executive officer.
"Orville's leadership skills, expertise and the overall manner in which he did business helped make Durham the success it is today," said Derek Ashton, current president and CEO. "Orville was in the office almost every day, even while battling cancer over the past year and a half. He could often be found in the office on the weekend. He lived and loved Durham Furniture and our people."
About 750 people attended his funeral last week, including Durham employees and many Canadian producers and retailers.
In the last nine years, Durham's sales have grown sharply, and the company has won numerous honors, including an unprecedented six Grand Trillium Awards. Last year, Mead was the first recipient of the Ontario Furniture Manufacturers Assn.'s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mead served two terms as OFMA president and a term as president of the Canadian Council of Furniture Manufacturers. He was on OFMA's board for well over a decade.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, their four children and 11 grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society in care of the McCulloch Funeral Home, 166 Bruce St., Durham, Ontario N0G 1R0.
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