Joe Tillman Jr., Sales Rep for Four Decades

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, March 18, 2013

TillmanSARASOTA, Fla. - Joe Tillman Jr., a furniture industry sales representative in the southeastern U.S. for more than four decades, has died. He was 90.
     Tillman, a native of Greenwood, Miss., and a Mississippi State University graduate, began his furniture industry career shortly after a stint in the Army.
     During his career, he was a rep for Kent-Coffee/Blowing Rock Furniture, Fairfield Chair, Singer Furniture and Global Furniture.
     A recipient of the "rep of the year" award from the Louisiana Furniture Assn., Tillman was credited with being one of the first sales reps to understand purchasing imported furniture by container.
     He is survived by his wife, two children, a sister and four grandchildren. His son, Joe Tillman III, works for the contract furniture division of Fairfield Chair.