Former Burlington CEO Klopman Dies in Greensboro

Greensboro, NC, Aug. 2, 2010--Former Burlington Industries CEO William Allen Klopman, 88, died Sunday, July 25, at home in Greensboro.

Klopman's first job was as a sales trainee at Klopman Mills, a company started by his father that would became a division of Burlington Industries in 1956, and he became division president in 1963. He became the president of Burlington Industries in 1974 and served as the chairman of the board and CEO from 1976 to 1986. Burlington owned Lees Carpet before it was sold to Mohawk Industries.

He also served as president of the American Textile Manufacturers Institute from 1981 to 1986.