Marvin Windows Loses Longtime Leader
Wm. S. Marvin’s dedication to design led to establishment of the Hall of Fame for Design Excellence.
William Sibley “Bill” Marvin, the longtime president of Marvin Windows and Doors, died Aug. 31 at his home in Warroad, Minn.
Marvin, who was born Aug. 25, 1917, began his career at what was then Marvin Lumber and Cedar Co. in 1939. He was the eighth employee at the firm, which soon began making custom wood and door frames.
According to the company, Bill Marvin “later pushed to expand the offering to complete windows and doors,” creating Marvin Windows and Doors and becoming its president and chairman in 1960. “Under his leadership, the company grew every year except 1961, when the Warroad factory burned to the ground.”
“Bill Marvin had the vision to see that you could create a national market for custom millwork,” said Frank Anton, CEO of Hanley Wood, the publisher of Builder. “He found a way to reach a thousand markets of one before it was fashionable. He found a way to bring affordable custom millwork into the hands of builders nationwide. He probably created the pre-eminent custom millwork brand in the industry, one synonymous with architectural style.”