Tufting Industry Pioneer Erwin Dies

Chattanooga, TN, May 28, 2008--Don Roy Erwin, founder of Erwin Enterprises Inc., died Monday May 26.

In 1964 Erwin joined his father, a pioneer in the tufting industry, in his business. In 1972 he founded Erwin Enterprises Inc., designing and importing tufting needles from Germany. Under his leadership, Erwin Enterprises became sole distributor of the Eisbar needle in the United States and Canada. He retired as CEO in 1992 at which time his son Don Erwin Jr. assumed leadership of the business, making three generations of leaders in the tufting industry.

He earned a bachelor's degree in Bible and religious education from Carson Newman College. He served in a number of Baptist churches in Tennessee as minister of music and minister of education. Among them were Trenton Street Baptist in Harriman; First Baptist, Hixson and Broadway Baptist in Maryville, Tenn.