Nate Lipson

Atlanta—Nate Lipson was a paradox. He was a great salesman, persistent and persuasive, and, outside the business arena, he was shy, modest, declining honors and shunning the glare of the spotlight. He spent his entire career in the carpet industry and was one of the early visionaries whose diligence and resolve brought the title “Carpet Capital of the World” to north Georgia. In retirement and debilitated by a stroke three years ago, he died Dec. 22 of heart failure at his home here in Buckhead. He was 80.

Born Nathan Irvin Lipson, he grew up in Chicago and attended local schools. In the early 1950s, he went to work as a salesman for Ben Greenberg at Charm Tred. While traveling his territory, he met Tedd Munchak, who was running Alexander Smith’s carpet plant in Yonkers, N. Y.

The men had complementary skills and expertise but shared a common dream, so they headed south, and in 1959 they purchased Tex-Tuft from the Bryson brothers. At the time, the company, located in Rome, Ga., made scatter rugs, and the partners decided to add broadloom—Trend Mills was born. Lipson, Mr. Outside, handled the marketing strategy and directed the sales team, and Munchak, Mr. Inside, was responsible for running the plant and everything that went into it and came out of it.

Trend Mills was a leading carpet manufacturer for a decade and became an attractive candidate for acquisition. At the time, RCA bought Coronet, Sperry & Hutchinson purchased Bigelow, and West-Point Pepperell acquired Cabin Crafts. And, in 1969, Champion International purchased Trend Mills for $104 million. Following the sale of the company, Munchak left the industry, and Lipson decided to go another round. He launched another mill, Venture Carpets, in Calhoun, Ga., and after a few years, he withdrew from the company and retired.

Lipson was a warm and compassionate man whose loyalty and generosity earned him many friends in the industry and in the community. His philanthropic endeavors brought him the respect and admiration of legions throughout the country. The Anti-Defamation League presented him with the Torch of Liberty Award, and in 1974 the City of Hope honored him with the Golden Torch of Hope award and established the Nate Lipson Research Fellowship. After the death of his son, Michael, in 1990, he contributed magnanimously to various AIDS organizations, which eventually led to the founding of AID Atlanta.

Jack Love, who worked with Lipson and Munchak at Trend Mills, said, “Nate was always very thoughtful, and he was always there for every one of us. No matter how high up the pecking order or how low, he was your friend. How many bosses can you describe in that way?”

Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Joan; a son, Daniel, and his wife, Sue; a daughter, Sara Schlesinger, and her husband, John, as well as six grandchildren.