ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Bill Mann, a figure in the commercial laundry industry for 62 years, serving TRSA in various roles from 2004 to 2021, died Aug. 28 following an illness, the association reports. He was 82.
Mann served as TRSA’s director of industry affairs from 2004 to 2013. After that, he worked part-time as liaison to the TRSA Safety Committee and as an inspector for the Hygienically Clean certification program through April 2021.
“Bill consistently put others first,” says TRSA President & CEO Joseph Ricci. “Whether in the office, in the classroom, or in the field, helping members improve their safety and productivity. He was friends to many in the industry, and he always had a good story to share.”
Mann got his start in the linen, uniform and facility services industry in May 1958 while still in high school. He served as a “bundle boy,” moving linens at Mary MacIntosh Services, Bethlehem, Pa.
In the years that followed, he advanced to a number of executive posts in commercial laundries. He also served as a consultant and as a chemical supplier representative.
TRSA says Mann contributed his expertise to several key projects. These included:
- Hygienically Clean Certification: As director of industry affairs in the early 2000s, Mann served on a steering committee that organized an initiative that evolved into this program.
- “Laundry Operations and Management”: Published in 2017, this book offers an overview of the laundry industry, from soil sorting to washing, drying and finishing, packout and delivery.
- “Textile Laundering Technology”: Commonly known by its acronym “TLT,” this 2007 publication offers laundry operators guidance on wash formulas and all facets of chemical use/handling, fibers/fabrics, finishing, energy, and troubleshooting throughout the laundry process.
Bruce Feldman, president of Economy Linen and Towel Service Inc. in Dayton, Ohio, recalls working with Mann on various TRSA projects. Feldman was impressed by Mann’s skills and collegiality, along with his dedication to the industry.
“I had the opportunity to work with Bill on the Healthcare Committee,” he shares. “I also worked with him on other industry issues. My recollection is that he was very committed to the industry. He was always working to make us better and to help any of the operators that he could. He came up in the industry. He had a great deal of knowledge and was always willing to help. He was a sincerely nice guy who worked hard for us.”
Charles Edelman, corporate safety director for Unitex Healthcare Laundry Services in Elmsford, N.Y., and chair of TRSA’s Safety Committee, worked closely with Mann. Edelman was impressed by his knowledge and passion for incident prevention.
“I worked with Bill during his involvement with the TRSA Safety Committee,” he relates. “We all wanted to do our best, and Bill was right there with us. He always had an industry-related story that helped us at the committee meetings when we would get bogged down.”
There was a private remembrance dinner for immediate family.
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