| Description | NEWMAN, Rowe B. Founder and chairman of board, Russell-Newman Mfg. Company, Denton,
Texas. Boyhood; early work experiences; education; store manager, Montgomery Ward; store
manager, Butler Bros.; founding Russell-Newman, 1939; decision to specialize in lingerie; World War II; growth and expansion; financing methods; chain store accounts; decisions on designs; fabrics, dyes; government regulations; minority hiring; family members in business; employee relations; developing management team.
MARTINO, Frank. President, Russell-Newman Mfg. Company. Family background; early work
experiences; education; entry into clothing business; joining Russell-Newman as salesman;
promotions to office manager, production manager; growth and expansion; new plant locations;
launching separate business; incorporating into Russell-Newman; production, suppliers;
employee relations; financing methods; government regulations; competition; family involvement in business; views on organized labor; typical workday; attitudes toward retirement.
ROBINSON, Don. Executive vice-president, Russell-Newman Mfg. Company. Family
background; early work experiences; education; Burr Stores; plant manager and then sales
manager, Russell-Newman; policies toward marketing, credit; growth and expansion; design
decisions; government regulations; typical workday; views toward retirement.
KENDRICK, Lura. Chief designer (for thirty years), Russell-Newman Mfg. Company. Family
background; education; employment at Russell’s Department Store; art teacher at Texas
Woman’s University; part-time garment designer for Russell-Newman; comments on fabrics,
dyes; consumer preferences; cost consciousness in design; chain stores; design procedures;
evolution of design department. |
