1924-2021<\/p>\n\t
Paul Hunt Broyhill, age 97, furniture industry icon and philanthropist, passed away Tuesday, October 5, 2021, at Caldwell UNC Health Care. He was born April 5, 1924, in Lincoln County, NC, because Lenoir at that time did not have a hospital, to the late J.E. and Satie Hunt Broyhill. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Faye Arnold Broyhill; and two sisters, Betty Broyhill Gortner and Allene Broyhill Stevens.<\/p>\n
Paul grew up attending Lenoir public schools, walking to and from the family home on College Avenue, the current site of the Caldwell Arts Council. He played first-chair flute in the Lenoir High School Band. During the 1930s, schools had only 11 grades. For a fourth year of high school, he attended Culver Military Academy, and then enrolled in Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Before classes began at VPI, Paul was convinced to transfer to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.<\/p>\n
While he was at UNC, Uncle Sam interrupted his education. He was drafted into the United States Army and served as Technical Sergeant. After returning from the Army, Paul finished his degree in business at Chapel Hill and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society and the Phi Delta Theta business honor society.<\/p>\n
From college Paul returned to Lenoir and joined his father’s furniture business, beginning in the factories and working his way into management. During the 1940s and 50s he gained more responsibility until he became President and CEO of Broyhill Furniture Industries. When he assumed the reins from his father, the company employed approximately 1000 workers. Over Paul’s tenure, Broyhill Furniture increased to a workforce of nearly 7,500. Sales soared, doubling on average every seven years. The company grew to six million square feet of modern manufacturing facilities.<\/p>\n
Throughout the industry Paul Broyhill was known as an innovator in management, production, distribution, and marketing. The Broyhill management style centered on the belief that employees were the company’s most valued asset. Routinely, both J.E. and Paul visited the plants to give personal “at-a-boys.” An internal program called “Broyhill U” trained leaders to manage effectively. Paul was an industry pioneer in creating an employee stock option plan (ESOP) for every worker. One of his most remembered quotes is, “More than just building plants, I like to think I built people.”<\/p>\n
Unafraid to deviate from the status quo, he often traveled offshore to study new designs and to purchase state-of-the-art equipment. With this equipment and creative techniques, he revolutionized furniture production. He developed distribution methods so that the product was available quickly in all parts of the country.<\/p>\n
Referred to in the trade magazine Furniture Today<\/em> as a “game-changer,” he was the first to market his product in national home magazines like Life<\/em> and Look, <\/em>and on television game shows such as The Price is Right. <\/em>From a cadre of 20 salesmen in 1948, Paul eventually built a sales force of greater than 300. Under his leadership, Broyhill became the most recognizable name in home furnishings.<\/p>\n In 1946 Paul and his father began a charitable fund that would help children of their employees go to college. That fund grew over the years in financial worth and areas of interest into the current Broyhill Family Foundation. The foundation has given millions of dollars to support higher education, medical research, and other charitable endeavors. Endowment funds at numerous universities and hospitals provide ongoing support of programs and research.<\/p>\n Paul and his brother, U.S. Senator Jim Broyhill, were instrumental in establishing Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute. Paul believed that students who did not want to attend a four-year college needed career education alternatives. Over the years the Broyhill Family Foundation has continued to be a primary supporter of that institution. Today, appropriately, a new building on the campus bears his name: The Paul H. Broyhill Center for Advanced Technologies.<\/p>\n At the company’s height, Paul sold Broyhill Furniture Industries and the Broyhill name to Interco, Inc. With the proceeds, he structured the BMC Fund that he managed on behalf of the Broyhill family. Paul Broyhill stayed involved in business and in humanitarian efforts until just before his death. He was vital and engaged with a sharp mind, a sense of humor, and a heart for others.<\/p>\n Over the years Paul received innumerable local, state, and national awards, recognitions, commendations and honors including: Honorary doctorates from Gardner-Webb University, Appalachian State University, Lees-McRae College, and Lenoir Rhyne University; Furniture Today <\/em>Lifetime Achievement Award; The North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry Hall of Fame; The American Home Furnishings Association Hall of Fame and Distinguished Service Award; State of North Carolina Order of the Longleaf Pine; and Masonic Veteran’s Master Service Award.<\/p>\n He was a friend of U.S. Presidents, Congressmen, and other leaders. Yet, his heart warmed when random people would approach him, thanking him for the opportunity he provided them at Broyhill Furniture. While he devoted most of his time to business and to the foundation, Paul also participated in various church and civic activities. A lifelong member of First Baptist Church of Lenoir, he served in capacities including Sunday School teacher, member and Chairman of the Board of Deacons, and Life Deacon. He served as Trustee of the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest University and Tomorrow’s America Foundation, which operates four Broyhill Leadership Conferences for youth.<\/p>\n In addition, Paul Broyhill served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Manufacturers, the Dallas Market Center in Dallas, Texas, and the Board of the American Furniture Manufacturers Association in High Point, North Carolina. He served on the Board of Directors and advisory councils of various colleges and universities.<\/p>\n