Frank M. Fenton

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

AP via Yahoo! News


WILLIAMSTOWN, W.Va. (AP) Frank M. Fenton, longtime president of Fenton Art Glass and son of its founder, died Tuesday, according to the company's Web site. He was 89.

Fenton headed the art glass company for nearly four decades with his brother Bill. The company, the largest manufacturer of handmade colored glass in the United States, was founded in 1905 by Frank L. Fenton and his brother John in Martins Ferry, Ohio.

"He was a great leader and certainly provided a lot of support and advice," said George Fenton, Fenton's son and the current CEO and president of Fenton Art Glass. "He was personally very caring and, in business, very wise and very astute."

While growing up, Fenton had tried several times to get a summer job at the factory, but his father turned him down, saying others needed the work more than he did. Eventually, he was given a position by his uncle.

Nine Fenton family members now work for the company, which employs more than 400 people.