In Remembrance of Louie B.

This past week a true legend of the furniture industry passed away at the age of 93. No one person was more responsible for the success of Nebraska Furniture Mart than Louie Blumkin. I grew up hearing countless stories of Louie from my dad Emmet Root who was a supplier for almost 60 years, a close friend, and in later years a neighbor. I asked Emmet if he would share a few words with everyone about a man he knew so well...

The furniture industry mourns the death of one of the real giants of our time, Louie Blumkin. Louie was my mentor, my friend, my beacon of how to treat everyone with dignity and fairness. He took a small business that his mother scraped to keep alive and built it into the profitable emerging giant that Warren Buffett and the next generational team built. As Nebraska Furniture Mart propelled into the forefront of the Berkshire group, Louie ceded control to his two able sons Ron and Irv.

His love of the industry, the customers and the company kept Louie active in the operation well into his late 80's. Mention Louis's name to any associate, sales rep that called on him, industry leaders and retail customers and each has his own "Mr. B" story. His kindness, focus, salesmanship, and unbelievable memory were legendary with all who met him. More than anything else, he treated all he met with kindness and respect.

His passing will not be of regret but rather with a genuine appreciation of having known a gentle man of enormous talents. Louie and I shared business, social, golf and life experiences. He and Frances, his wife of 66 years, taught us how to raise our sons to be worthy men.

For 60 years Lou and I shared our love of the furniture business, our hour and twenty minute golf game and Burger King lunch (because that's all he could get away from the store for), and many social events and trips together. We laughed and even cried together, but through it all he was a monument to everyone in the home furnishing industry as to what heights to which one should aspire.

We'll miss you Louie!!!