Alan Lorberbaum Dies at 82

Dalton, GA, September 11, 2006-- Alan S. Lorberbaum, founder and former president of Aladdin Mills, died Saturday at his home in Boca Raton, Fla. He was 82. A dynamic and innovative leader in the carpet industry for more than 40 years, he founded Aladdin with his late wife Shirley and built it into one of the industry’s leading manufacturers. In 1994, Aladdin merged with Mohawk Industries. Lorberbaum became Mohawk’s major shareholder and joined its board of directors. Lorberbaum served in the infantry in World War ll and fought in the Battle of the Bulge in 1945. After the war, he attended Lowell Textile Institute and studied textile engineering. In 1948, he moved to Dalton from New York City. He worked for his family’s business, Lawtex Industries Inc., a manufacturer of rugs and bedspreads. Aladdin focused on the rug and bath mat business until the late 1970s, the company moved into the carpet business in the 1980s. the Aladdin facility in Dalton is one of the industry’s largest sites with more than 2.5 million square feet of manufacturing operations. Lorberbaum’s legacy goes well beyond the company he founded. Through his philanthropic endeavors, he focused on supporting issues that impact education from early childhood development through higher education. He believed education is essential to the success of individuals and communities. Services are scheduled for Tuesday, September 12m at 3 p.m. in the chapel of Love Funeral Home in Dalton, with Rabbi Elaine Schnee officiating. Burial will be in Whitfield Memorial Gardens.