D.W. (Fritz) Norris (February 2, 1876 – October 5, 1949), aka David Windsor “Fritz” Norris Jr. was an American newspaper publisher and businessman.

Early life

He was born in Chicago, Ill. He graduated from

Grinnell College Grinnell College is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Grinnell, Iowa, United States. It was founded in 1846 when a group of New England Congregationalism in the United States, Congrega ...

in 1892.

Career

He began to sell advertising in 1897 in

Marshalltown, Iowa Marshalltown is a city in and the county seat of Marshall County, Iowa, United States, located along the Iowa River. It is the seat and most populous settlement of Marshall County and the 16th largest city in Iowa, with a population of 27,591 at ...

for the

Marshalltown Times Republican Marshalltown is a city in and the county seat of Marshall County, Iowa, United States, located along the Iowa River. It is the seat and most populous settlement of Marshall County and the 16th largest city in Iowa, with a population of 27,591 at ...

and in 1899, purchased the paper and became editor and publisher. 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 World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

, parts for bombs and aircraft) with multiple manufacturing locations. Norris continued to control and managed the firm until his death in 1949. His descendants continued to play a role in the company.An Icon Retires
achrnews, July 2006 Today, the furnace company is a publicly traded company called Lennox International, Inc.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Norris, D. W. Grinnell College alumni American newspaper publishers (people) 1876 births 1949 deaths