Chattanooga, Tenn.—Carl Hagaman, a veteran of the flooring industry and consummate businessman, passed away here on Nov. 14. He was 91 years old.

Hagaman was a “pioneer of the carpet business dating back to our industry’s infancy,” said Don Karlin, national sales manager for Hagaman Carpet Industries. His first venture was Heritage Carpet Mills, a business that was ultimately acquired in the mid 1960s by Bud Seratean of Coronet Industries. Shortly thereafter, Hagaman founded Danube Carpets. After he eventually sold Danube in 1982, Hagaman retired. Danube is now a division of Shaw Industries.

During his career, Hagaman was never afraid to purchase and pioneer cutting-edge technology, noted Karlin. For example, because of his early investment in new machinery, his companies were responsible for refining and developing the earliest 5/64-inch gauge tufting machines, and initial cut-and-loop technology. Hagaman also became a founding investor in Color Strand, an early space dyeing facility in Dalton, as well as Color Masters, a pioneer of the then state-of-the-art Artos dyeing technology.

Hagaman had the help of his two sons, Donald and Daniel, at Danube Carpets until its sale. Today, Dan remains in the carpet business (with his two sons) at Hagaman Carpet Industries.

Founder of Community Federal Bank, presently AmSouth Bank, as well as various other small businesses, Hagaman was a member of Ridgedale Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his son, Carl Jr. Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Josephine Biggs Hagaman; and his two sons.