Wood Floor Veteran Rick Brian Passes Away at 66

Longtime wood flooring industry veteran Richard "Rick" Brian passed away on Feb. 6 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 66 years old. Brian became involved in the industry when he was hired by Robbins Inc in 1983 as vice president of marketing and later was in charge of the Robbins Hardwood Flooring Division. He was part of the executive team that grew the company to the second-largest wood flooring manufacturer in the United States; the company was then bought by the Triangle Pacific Corporation (which later became part of Armstrong) in 1997. After the transition to TriPac, in 1997 Brian started his own consulting business, R.B. Brian & Associates Inc. Brian was active in the National Wood Flooring Association and was instrumental in the creation of Hardwood Floors, the official magazine of the NWFA, which began in 1988 (at left, he's pictured during the 1991 NWFA convention in Reno, when the five-year anniversary of Hardwood Floors was recognized).

Jay Stoehr III, president/CEO of Robbins Inc., says Brian was someone with high values and a strong work ethic who was very dedicated to his family. "He was passionate about assisting others, as well as organizations like the NWFA," Stoehr says. "He had an easy laugh and a great smile."

Brian is survived by his wife of 23 years, Sharon, and a large family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to The Lustgarten Foundation, which is dedicated to curing pancreatic cancer. His full obituary can be viewed here.

Rick Brian, right, during the late 1980s at one of the first NWFA conventions.