Boca Raton, Fla.—Alan S. Lorberbaum lived the American dream. With limited resources, he founded a company that produced rugs and bath mats and built it into one of the carpet industry’s most formidable mills. On Sept. 9, he died at his home in Florida. He was 82.

In 1957 he and his late wife, Shirley, founded Aladdin Mills. Initially, the company produced rugs and bath mats for discounters, and in the 1980s, it aggressively pursued the carpet business, competing successfully against well established mills.

In 1994, Mohawk Industries proposed a merger that would create an industry leader. He agreed to the merger and became a member of Mohawk’s board and its major shareholder.