Croscill vet Osborne to retire in January

Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 9/2/2002 12:00:00 AM

DURHAM, NC —

DURHAM, NC Croscill vp of sales Joe Osborne will retire this coming January after nearly 35 years with the company.

"To his customers he's 'Mr. Integrity,' " president David Kahn told HTT. "We used to call him 'the senator.' "He's the kind of person you could always go to for sound thinking."

Osborne's role will be assumed by Dick Kirshbaum, sales manager for department stores. Reporting to Kirshbaum will be Pat Carnes, who will handle an expanded sales territory.

John Horan becomes sales manager for specialty retail chains, reporting to Kahn. Jim Geise becomes a sales rep handling specialty retail chains, reporting to Horan.

In addition, Jack Mahon, who handles mid-tier department stores, has added import logistics to his responsibilities. Julie Brady has added product development to her vp duties.

Osborne has been dividing his time between Kentucky and Florida and told HTT that beyond seeing more of his wife and seven children, he has no firm plans. He joined Croscill as a sales rep covering Kentucky and Indiana. Previously, he worked in Louisville, KY, as a carpet and drapery buyer for Kaufman-Strauss Stores and in Los Angeles as a carpet buyer for Barker Brothers.

Of his time at Croscill, he said, "The people that own this company are the finest. It's just really been a special relationship, at least for me."