1924
Alvin
2013
Alvin "Bo" Bland
October 20, 1924 — February 19, 2013
BO BLAND
TUPELO ? Alvin E. ?Bo? Bland, 88, died Tuesday February 19, 2013, at his residence in Tupelo. He was born in Toccopola, MS on October 20, 1924, to George Alvin and Fannie Bland. He was a graduate of Mississippi State University and served in the US Army Combat Engineers in Europe during World War II. Bo was a member of First United Methodist Church in Tupelo.
He was a legend in the furniture industry where he began his 42 year career in 1954, with the Futorian Company. He cofounded Action Industries in 1970 where he served as CEO & Chairman until his retirement in 1996. Mr. Bland was inducted into the American Furniture Hall of Fame in October of 2001, as the first member from the state of Mississippi. His legacy leaves behind literally thousands of friends in the furniture industry whose lives have been touched and shaped by his leadership. He was a true entrepreneur who with his partner, Mickey Holliman, built from nothing one of the most successful companies in the history of the furniture industry.
He served not only the furniture industry but his state, local community and church by serving on numerous boards throughout his lifetime including American Furniture Manufactures Association, North MS Medical Center, MS Manufacturers Association, First United Methodist Church and the Community Development Foundation. His unselfish giving of his time and resources was one of his great accomplishments.
While his work didn?t leave much time for hobbies, he did have a love for the water where he spent his later years boating at Pickwick on his beloved boat ?The Spoiler?. He was also fondly known at the lake as one of the silver haired guys on Sea Doos.
Services will be held Friday, February 22 at 11:00 am at the First United Methodist Church in Tupelo with Rev. Jim Curtis and Rev. Coy Hill officiating. Entombment will be in Lee Memorial Park Mausoleum.
Survivors include his wife, Geraldine ?Judy? Bland, daughters Ginger Bland and Gennie Adams, son Roger Bland and his wife, Martha, all of Tupelo, a stepson Ronnie Hill (Julie), a stepdaughter, Rhonda Swift (Joe), five grandchildren, Shannon Morris (Keith), Stacey Carter (Ray), Kelly Crawley (Justin), Andrew Bland (Jaime), Patrick Bland, six step-grandchildren, Cynthia Colburn (Randy), Jonathan Soden (Crystal), Brittany Watson, Katie Hill, Joe Swift, III, Miranda Swift, four great-grandchildren, eight stepgreat-grandchildren, a sister, Beatrice Clark and a very special friend, Woody Magers of Nettleton.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Fred Bland and his first wife of 50 years Mary Louise ?Lou? Rodgers Bland.
Pallbearers will be Andrew Bland, Patrick Bland, Keith Morris, Ray Carter, Justin Crawley & Ronnie Hill.
Visitation will be from Thursday, February 21st from 4 to 8 pm at Pegues Funeral Home in Tupelo.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1800 W. Main Street
Tupelo, MS 38801, the Sanctuary Hospice House, PO Box 2177, Tupelo, MS 38803, or the Alzheimer?s Foundation, 1900 Dunbarton Drive, Suite 1, Jackson, MS 39216.
TUPELO ? Alvin E. ?Bo? Bland, 88, died Tuesday February 19, 2013, at his residence in Tupelo. He was born in Toccopola, MS on October 20, 1924, to George Alvin and Fannie Bland. He was a graduate of Mississippi State University and served in the US Army Combat Engineers in Europe during World War II. Bo was a member of First United Methodist Church in Tupelo.
He was a legend in the furniture industry where he began his 42 year career in 1954, with the Futorian Company. He cofounded Action Industries in 1970 where he served as CEO & Chairman until his retirement in 1996. Mr. Bland was inducted into the American Furniture Hall of Fame in October of 2001, as the first member from the state of Mississippi. His legacy leaves behind literally thousands of friends in the furniture industry whose lives have been touched and shaped by his leadership. He was a true entrepreneur who with his partner, Mickey Holliman, built from nothing one of the most successful companies in the history of the furniture industry.
He served not only the furniture industry but his state, local community and church by serving on numerous boards throughout his lifetime including American Furniture Manufactures Association, North MS Medical Center, MS Manufacturers Association, First United Methodist Church and the Community Development Foundation. His unselfish giving of his time and resources was one of his great accomplishments.
While his work didn?t leave much time for hobbies, he did have a love for the water where he spent his later years boating at Pickwick on his beloved boat ?The Spoiler?. He was also fondly known at the lake as one of the silver haired guys on Sea Doos.
Services will be held Friday, February 22 at 11:00 am at the First United Methodist Church in Tupelo with Rev. Jim Curtis and Rev. Coy Hill officiating. Entombment will be in Lee Memorial Park Mausoleum.
Survivors include his wife, Geraldine ?Judy? Bland, daughters Ginger Bland and Gennie Adams, son Roger Bland and his wife, Martha, all of Tupelo, a stepson Ronnie Hill (Julie), a stepdaughter, Rhonda Swift (Joe), five grandchildren, Shannon Morris (Keith), Stacey Carter (Ray), Kelly Crawley (Justin), Andrew Bland (Jaime), Patrick Bland, six step-grandchildren, Cynthia Colburn (Randy), Jonathan Soden (Crystal), Brittany Watson, Katie Hill, Joe Swift, III, Miranda Swift, four great-grandchildren, eight stepgreat-grandchildren, a sister, Beatrice Clark and a very special friend, Woody Magers of Nettleton.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Fred Bland and his first wife of 50 years Mary Louise ?Lou? Rodgers Bland.
Pallbearers will be Andrew Bland, Patrick Bland, Keith Morris, Ray Carter, Justin Crawley & Ronnie Hill.
Visitation will be from Thursday, February 21st from 4 to 8 pm at Pegues Funeral Home in Tupelo.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1800 W. Main Street
Tupelo, MS 38801, the Sanctuary Hospice House, PO Box 2177, Tupelo, MS 38803, or the Alzheimer?s Foundation, 1900 Dunbarton Drive, Suite 1, Jackson, MS 39216.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Alvin "Bo" Bland, please visit our flower store.
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