Posted October 29, 2014

 

As you know by now, the textile industry lost a giant last week, W. Duke Kimbrell, who died in his sleep at age 89. He spent more than 70 years working at Parkdale in Gastonia, N.C., coming to the office even up to his final days. He started sweeping the floors at the company as a teenager and rose to lead the company and grow it into the world’s largest yarn spinner in the second half of the 20th century.

 

Unquestionably, Kimbrell was the senior statesman of textiles. His impact and influence on the cotton and yarn business was unparalleled. He touched the lives of many, including friends, employees, the community and those with whom he did business. More than 500 turned out for his funeral Saturday to pay last respects to the man who brought so much to the world. This week, many of his industry colleagues have offered their thoughts and remembrances of Kimbrell on our tribute page. But those comments represent only a small portion of the legacy and footprint he left.

 

Kimbrell received just about every accolade and honor associated with textiles, along with many more outside of the industry. His philanthropic efforts were immense, particularly in educational areas. He made major contributions to N.C. State University – his alma mater – as well as to Gaston College and Gaston Day School, not to mention many other local causes. He knew early on what he wanted to do and achieve in life – and worked hard to realize it. His work ethic was one rarely seen these days, learned only by those who struggled through the Depression era. Historian Robert Ragan wrote in his book “The Textile Heritage of Gaston County” that Kimbrell was “perhaps the most noteworthy success story in modern American textiles.” Ragan added: “In talking with him it is clearly evident that of all the qualities of success, determination – a Herculean determination – has always been paramount in his character.”

 

He was born just six miles from Parkdale Mills and was named after Duke Power Co., where his father worked. His mother, a public school teacher, made certain he got his education. “With this support from home, Duke was encouraged to be independent and ambition was not squelched,” wrote textile historian Gary Mock of N.C. State, at www.textilehistory.org. When he returned from WWII after 18 missions over Europe in the Army Air Corps., Kimbrell attended N.C. State University and had a number of job offers, but chose Parkdale because “I saw an opportunity to rise to the top more quickly  than anywhere else,” Kimbrell told Mock. “Plus, I loved the place.” Robert A. Barnhardt, dean of the N.C. State’s College of Textiles from 1989-1999, said in Mock’s piece, “That’s the type of Horatio Alger story that many would like to achieve but few succeed.”

 

In a Gaston Gazette retrospective last week by Bill Williams, a former editor of the paper, he quoted Kimbrell from an interview he had conducted several years ago. Kimbrell’s comments speak volumes about his upbringing and character. “Every day,” Kimbrell said, “I rode a bicycle to work before high school. Naturally, kids at school made fun. I took pains to keep up my appearance and carefully cleaned my nails, (which were) blackened by the physical work I was doing. Jobs were hard to come by back then. Eventually, I worked in every single job and on every single shift just to get ahead. So, I can truthfully say I have never asked anyone to do what I wouldn’t. It was evident to me that people were the driving core of business – whether it’s the customer or the employee. My entire work life, I’ve focused on people instead of things. So, I worked in the lowliest jobs at the mills – jobs that don’t even exist anymore. Those who will do the same have my deepest respect. If a person knows their job, they’re indispensable in working through a problem.”

 

Kimbrell commanded a great deal of respect in the industry, but was always unimposing and willing to listen to other’s ideas, several industry colleagues have said through the years. In the late 1990s, Roger Milliken, a longtime friend and then-chairman of Milliken & Co. in Spartanburg, S.C., told The Charlotte Observer, “There are people, when they come into the room, it brightens up the room. He’s that kind of a person. It’s more interesting, more challenging when he’s there. There might be more arguments, but it ain’t going to be dull." The now-deceased Milliken, of course, was another of the few industry titans on the same level as Kimbrell in terms of stature and impact on the industry.

 

Others have said that Kimbrell related naturally to others whether they were hourly plant employees or corporate executives. That was certainly the case on the several occasions I was in his presence. He always spoke warmly to me, shook my hand, gave me that familiar gentle grin and looked me in the eye. What more could you ask from someone of such success and standing in life?

 

We thank Mr. Kimbrell for his immense contributions to our industry and the world. May he rest in peace.