DW Norris

D.W. (Fritz) Norris (February 2, 1876 – October 5, 1949), aka David Windsor “Fritz” Norris Jr. was an American newspaper publisher and businessman. He was born in Chicago, Ill. He graduated from Grinnell College in 1892.[1][2][3]

He began to sell advertising in 1897 in Marshalltown, Iowa for the Marshalltown Times Republican and in 1899, purchased the paper and became editor and publisher.[4][5][6]

In 1904 he purchased a furnace business from Dave Lennox for $54,789 that was based on a novel patented furnace design using riveted steel, incorporated the operation as "Lennox Furnace Company" and proceeded to sell 600 furnaces in the first year. Under his management, the company grew to hold an important place in the heating industry by the 1940s (and during World War II, parts for bombs and aircraft) with multiple manufacturing locations.[7] Norris continued to control and managed the firm until his death in 1949.[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] His descendants continued to play a role in the company.[16] Today, the furnace company is a publicly traded company called Lennox International, Inc.

References
  1. History of Marshall County, Iowa - Page 234, Gerard Schultz
  2. American Biographies: A Genealogical, Historical and Biographical Cyclopedia, pages 23-25, 1950
  3. When Grinnell College Built a Foundry..., Feb 2017
  4. "Business Review Marshalltown Times Republican".
  5. "Fifty years of progress" edition, commemorating D.W. Norris' fifty years with the Times-Republican Print. Co., published June 6, 1949
  6. Fourth Estate: A Weekly Newspaper for Publishers, Advertisers, Advertising Agents and Allied Interests, Fourth Estate Publishing Company, 1919, page 12
  7. Lennox International Inc., Coal Furnace Beginnings, International Directory of Company Histories
  8. Legends of Manufacturing, Times-Republican, October 2016
  9. Sanitary and Heating Age - Page 61, Sanitary and Heating Publishing, 1904
  10. Engineering Review - Volume 19 - Page 82, 1909
  11. The Metal Worker, Plumber, and Steam Fitter - Volume 82 - Page 264, 1915
  12. Public Service Management - Volumes 26-27 - Page 145, 1919
  13. Sheet Metal Worker - Volume 26 - Page 178, 1935
  14. Entrepreneur magazine encyclopedia of entrepreneurs, page 313, Anthony Hallett, Diane Hallett, 1997
  15. A Century of Comfort: Lennox: The First Hundred Years 1895-1995, centennial publication printed by Lennox International Inc.
  16. An Icon Retires, achrnews, July 2006
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