Thomas O'Sullivan, O'Sullivan founder
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, March 21, 2004
LAMAR, Mo. — LAMAR, Mo.— Thomas O'Sullivan, founder of O'Sullivan Inds. and a pioneer in the ready-to-assemble furniture industry, has died. He was 82.
He founded his namesake company in Japan, Mo., in 1954 with six employees, and led the business until his retirement in 1986. During his tenure, annual sales grew to more than $100 million and the company moved to its current headquarters in Lamar.
Three sons are with the company — Daniel O'Sullivan, who succeeded his father as chairman; Tom O'Sullivan Jr., senior vice president of sales; and Mike O'Sullivan, senior vice president of marketing.
"Tom O'Sullivan was one of the founding fathers of today's $3 billion RTA furniture industry," said Rick Davidson, O'Sullivan president and CEO. "He recognized the opportunity for affordable furniture that was created with the growth of television in American homes. He seized this opportunity and built not just innovative products, but the foundation of a great company and an entire industry."
He added that O'Sullivan "built a company that cares for its consumers, customers and employees. His vision and energy continue to drive our company and our employees to be 'simply the best'."
Innovations the company adopted under O'Sullivan's guidance included new manufacturing technologies and designs that improved consumer assembly. O'Sullivan now employs about 2,000 people.
After his retirement, he managed O'Sullivan Properties, a real estate company with interests in four states. He was active in local charities, was named the Lamar Citizen of the Year in 1983, and in 1997 was honored with a fund-raising drive that led the local high school to rename its football field the Thomas O'Sullivan Stadium.
He is survived by his wife and five children. Two children preceded him in death.
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