Action co-founder Bland dies

Larry Thomas -- Furniture Today, February 25, 2013

BlandTUPELO, Miss. - Alvin E. "Bo" Bland, co-founder of Action Inds. and a pioneer in Mississippi furniture manufacturing, died here last week. He was 88.
     Bland, who was elected to the American Furniture Hall of Fame in 2001, began his furniture industry career in 1954, when he began working for industry legend Morris Futorian. While working at Futorian Furniture, Bland became the company's vice president of manufacturing and was instrumental in bringing modern furniture manufacturing technology to Mississippi.
     He also designed several mechanisms that helped grow the reclining chair market, and is credited with developing the first "TV position" recliner.
     In 1970, he and W.G. "Mickey" Holliman, then a Futorian Furniture plant manager, founded Action Inds. and the company quickly became a force in the recliner market. Action was acquired by Lane in 1972 and eventually became the country's second-largest recliner manufacturer.
     Bland remained a Lane executive until his retirement in the mid-1990s and was member of the company's board of directors and executive committee.
     His son, Roger, was a Lane executive for many years and currently is president of upholstery producer Southern Motion.
     Holliman, who retired in 2008 as chairman of Lane's parent company, Furniture Brands International, called Bland "a giant in the furniture industry" who was skilled at sales and marketing in addition to manufacturing and product development.
     "Bo was not only a mentor to me over the years, he was a great friend of mine," said Holliman.
     He said his friendship with Bland, who was 13 years older, evolved after Holliman joined Futorian in 1964. He and Bland both had dreams of starting their own companies, so they decided to join forces and form one that made recliners.
     Within two years, Action Inds. had become a major player in the recliner marketplace and Holliman said three larger companies - including Lane - were interested in an acquisition.
     "Bo and I spent some long, hard hours discussing what we should do," Holliman recalled. "We finally decided to sell to Lane because we could see a lot of growth potential ... but we didn't have the capital that it would take to realize it."
     After the sale, Bland continued to be a driving force behind sales and product development at Action/Lane, as the company was then called.
     Industry analyst Jerry Epperson said Bland often invited him to speak at sales meetings prior to the High Point Market, but said Bland was the one who kept the rapt attention of the sales team.
     "He had a tremendous way of inspiring the sales force and energizing them to go out there and sell," Epperson said. "He was one of the best leaders you will ever find in this business."