1986- Sixth Banquet
Honoring Walter B. Guinan
President of the Floor Covering Industry Foundation
FCIF’s sixth banquet took place on January 4, 1986 in the Wellington Ballroom of the Westin Hotel in Chicago. That year, our honoree was our foundation President, Walter B. Guinan.
Guihan was a revered figure in the floor covering industry, with a career spanning nearly six decades. Beginning as a mail boy at the age of 14 before joining Bigelow-Sanford (then Bigelow-Hartford Carpet Company) in 1928, Guihan worked his way up through various sales and design positions. His dedication and expertise led to him being named Vice President of Karastan Rug Mills in 1954 and President of the company in 1957. He also served as Senior Vice President of Fieldcrest Mills, Inc., the parent company of Karastan, until his retirement from these roles in 1975. Even after retirement, Guihan continued to provide invaluable contributions to the industry as a consultant, advising companies like Fieldcrest Mills, Martin Processing, RBI, and the Merchandise Mart. His vast experience took him around the globe, with an estimated 250,000 miles of travel annually throughout the US, Europe, and South America.
Guihan's influence extended beyond his executive roles. He served on numerous boards, including the Jute Carpet Backing Council and the Retail Floorcovering Institute. Notably, he was the only person to have chaired both the American Carpet Institute and its successor, the Carpet and Rug Institute. As the industry's representative in Washington, D.C., Guihan worked on several key issues related to floor covering. His leadership in (FCIF) began during its founding in 1980, and at the time of the banquet he served as its President.
Guihan resided in West Palm Beach, Florida with his wife, Blanche. Their family included seven children, twelve grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
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