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December 19, 2009

Barron retires from Shaw after 40 years

Submitted by Shaw Industries

Following a 40-year career at Shaw Industries in Dalton, Bill Barron, vice president of manufacturing, is retiring at the end of the year. Serving in a number of managerial and technical positions through the years, Barron has been instrumental in Shaw’s growth and success.

An “Army brat,” Barron was born in Riverside, Calif. and moved to Rock Hill, S.C. when his father was deployed to Europe in World War II as an artillery officer. The family stayed in South Carolina after the war, and Barron grew up there, graduating from The Citadel in Charleston with a degree in business administration.

After a two-year stint in the U.S. Army, Barron began his Shaw career with Shaw’s Philadelphia Carpets in Cartersville, working with Arthur Anderson company to establish a cost system for manufacturing operations. This project signaled the beginning of Shaw’s industrial engineering operations.

Asked what he enjoyed most in his early years with the company, Barron cites the results of his proposal to consolidate tufting, dyeing, and coating at Star Dye’s Superior Dye House, now Plant 11.

“They liked my proposal, then said go ahead,” Barron recalls. “It was the first four-wall manufacturing operation for Shaw, consolidating all of the processes under one roof.”

Barron was brought to Dalton in 1977 as director of carpet manufacturing at the time the Dalton and Cartersville operations were merged. In 1992, he was promoted to vice president of manufacturing which he has held until his retirement.

In addition to his many work-related contributions, Barron has been an active volunteer and leader in his church and the community. He is a past chairman of the American Heart Association and has been involved with United Way for a number of years, having served as chairman for Shaw’s campaign and a board member of the organization. He is also a board member and past chairman of the Georgia Textile Association. A member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Dalton, Barron has served on the vestry and twice been senior warden, a leadership position within the church.

Barron has for years been noted for his dedication to physical fitness, and he is a familiar figure at Dalton’s Bradley Wellness Center, a hospital-based facility that offers health education and exercise programs to help participants maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Barron and his wife, Gina, live in Whitfield County where they raise Straight Egyptian Arabian horses.

“These are very intelligent horses,” Barron said. “They are the descendants of horses kept by desert nomads, who would often keep them in their tents. As a result, the horses became very close to humans and are extremely curious whenever they are around people. They are also excellent endurance runners, since they have large chest cavities that facilitate superior lung capacity.”

Bill and Gina also enjoy traveling.

Regarding his retirement plans, Barron has plenty to keep him busy. In addition to tending his horses and traveling, he will be involved in running two mini-warehouse operations he owns.

“I’m sure I’ll find time to get in everyone’s hair in the near future,” he said.

He will also be busy with family: Barron has three children of his own, three stepsons, and five granddaughters, all of whom are regular visitors.

“A couple of my granddaughters are showing an interest in the horses,” Barron said.

“I’m certainly going to miss all the Shaw people, because they’ve been like a family to me. I know I’m going to be busy in a lot of different areas, but I’ll miss the excitement around Shaw,” he added.

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