The founder of Texarkana company Mayo Manufacturing has died.
Marion Linn Mayo, 92, died Saturday.
The Mississippi native founded Mayo Manufacturing Corporation in 1965.
In November 1945, Mayo left the Marine Corps with 100 percent disability from injuries he sustained at Iwo Jima and went to work with the U.S. Bedding Company of Memphis, Tenn.
Mayo started out in upholstering and worked his way up to superintendent of the plant and was plant manager when he left in 1952. He later worked for Sealy in Fort Worth.
However, in 1956 Mayo heard about an opportunity in Texarkana. The family moved to town and Mayo managed Rehkoph Mattress Company from 1956 to 1965.
After the owner of Rehkoph Mattress died, Mayo decided to go into business for himself. He approached the manager of a local mobile home plant and asked if he could do business with him, perhaps providing the bedding that went into the mobile home.
He went to work in an empty building on Elm Street in downtown Texarkana.
The company began manufacturing and delivering furniture in 1966 and moved to its location at 4101 Terry in 1969.
Today the company employs 130 employees in a 156,000 square-foot plant. His son and two grandsons still work for the family business.
