NEWH - April 2004 - (Page 15)

in memory… Thomas R. Durkan, Sr. Mr. Thomas R. Durkan, Sr. of New York City and Dalton, Georgia passed away on Tuesday evening, November 25, 2003 at this home in Georgia. Mr. Durkan was the founder of Durkan Patterned Carpet, Inc. Mr. Durkan was born in New York City on October 18, 1925, the son of Irish immigrants Thomas R. Durkan and Beatrice Joynt Durkan. He served with the 8th Army Air Corps in the European Theater during World War II, and graduated from Fordham University in 1949. After founding the company that would become Durkan Patterned Carpet, Inc. in 1971, Mr. Durkan introduced new technologies that revolutionized the carpet industry. He retired in 1996, after selling Durkan Patterned Carpet, Inc. to Mohawk Industries, Inc., where he had begun his career 45 years earlier. Mr. Durkan often said that the secret of his success was that he had discovered the power of women in business. He was active in many business, philanthropic and community endeavors in Manhattan and Dalton. Mr. Durkan is survived by a sister, Mary Durkan Kinzie of Belle Harbor, New York; his children, Tara E. Durkan of Redondo Beach, California; Thomas R. Durkan, III, of Dalton, Georgia; Patricia A. Durkan of New York City; James P Durkan of . Chattanooga, Tenessee; and Charles W. Durkan of Dalton, Georgia; and seven grandchildren. Icons of Industry Scholarship NEWH proudly announces a new scholarship for students pursuing careers in the hospitality industry.... Icons of Industry Scholarship This scholarship has been designed to honor an individual who has contributed significantly to the hospitality industry – with the first year honoring the beloved Thomas R. Durkan, Sr., founder of Durkan Patterned Carpets, Inc. More information to come soon..... A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes* Thomas Durkan Sr. was indeed an icon of the hospitality industry. His dedication to the field of hospitality design was equaled only by his determination to produce the best possible patterned floor covering for hotels and restaurants. He would not settle for best in terms of quality, aesthetics, or cost effectiveness - his goal was to achieve three features combined. Throughout his career Tom Sr. seemed to know he would eventually find a niche in commercial carpets where the little guy could compete with industry giants. Braving the odds, bankruptcy and strong competitors, he persevered. But not until he focused on hospitality carpets and the designer specification process, did he find his formula for success. Tom Sr. became the father figure for designers, and the entire industry, for that matter. He differentiated his company by making specification of Durkan patterned carpets bullet proof. After studying the market, he discovered this area was often neglected by design schools, and he firmly believed a knowledgeable customer service staff and well-trained sales force would give Durkan Patterned Carpets an incomparable advantage. He wanted designers and their clients to be pleased with his product’s fulfillment of their design and performance expectations, and he continually reinvested company profits toward that goal. After all, his name appeared on these carpets! The Durkan family would like to endow this scholarship for deserving students who have the will and fortitude to embrace Tom Sr.’s determination, unfailing dedication and entrepreneurial dream come true: success and self-fulfillment in a wonderfully creative, rewarding and ever-challenging industry. Sincerely, Patricia A. Durkan *From the studios of Walt Disney - another Hospitality Industry icon 15

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NEWH - April 2004

NEWH - April 2004
President’s Letter
Calendar of Events
Contents
From the Editor
Hospitality News
In Memory - Thomas R. Durkan, Sr.
Top Hotel Developers - John Q. Hammons
On the Road Again
HD Expo at a Glance
Surviving HD
Did You Know
Exclusive Lifestyle by Design
If It Were Easy
The Best of Time
Talk About Fast Track
What to Expect From the Vacation Ownership Industry
A Look Back in History
The New Direction for Timeshares in Europe
Confronting the Disabilities Myth
Furnishing Today’s Timeshare
Art - The Final Piece of the Puzzle
Showcase Projects
Design Education Today
Designer Profile: Esther Dunbar-Cullum
Oh Canada, Oh Canada
Top Awards
From Across the Pond
Spotlight On...
Tips on Specs
Window Treatments 101
Hot New Products
We Want Your Projects
Bios

NEWH - April 2004