Longtime Supplier Partner CEO Bill Tingue Passes On

William J. “Bill” Tingue, 85, a retired CEO of Tingue, Brown & Co. and the 2003 winner of TRSA’s Lifetime Achievement Award, passed away on May 8.

A U.S. Navy veteran and graduate of Brown University, Tingue dedicated his professional life to his family-owned company based in Peachtree City, GA. Tingue’s grandfather founded Tingue, Brown in 1902. As a third-generation leader, Bill Tingue advanced through the executive ranks at the company and was named CEO in 1992. He retired in 2007 but continued to serve on the company’s board of directors.

During his tenure, Tingue, Brown grew significantly and diversified its product and service offerings for commercial laundries. Branching out from its main specialty of providing felts, aprons and accessories for ironers, Tingue has since move into new markets through acquisitions and broadened its product/service lineup.

In 2007, Bill’s son David Tingue succeeded his father as CEO. David has continued the company’s tradition of active support for commercial launderers and TRSA. He was honored at TRSA’s recent 112^th Annual Conference as the winner of the 2025 Maglin/Biggie Lifetime Achievement Award. David’s son John Tingue, a fifth-generation leader of the company, recently was named regional sales manager for Tingue, Brown’s northern U.S. territory (from Indiana westward).

J.R. Ryan, a former laundry operator, was a Tingue, Brown customer for several years before joining the company in an executive capacity. Ryan, who now serves as a vice president of Tank Holding Corp., the parent company of Meese, offered his perspective on Bill Tingue. “There are individuals whose impact on an industry is so profound that their influence is felt not only in boardrooms and production facilities, but in the very way business is conducted across the sector,” Ryan said. “Bill Tingue was one of those rare leaders. For me, that impact was personal – first as a customer of the company he led, and later as a colleague when I joined the organization he helped shape.

“When I first did business with Tingue Brown, it was clear that this was no ordinary operation. There was a culture of integrity, responsiveness and genuine care for the customer’s success. That culture started with Bill. Though I was a customer at the time, you could feel his presence in the way his team operated – with professionalism, humility and a sense of purpose.

“Years later, when I joined the company, Bill had retired from day-to-day leadership but remained actively involved as chairman of the board. Even in that capacity, his influence was unmistakable. The values he instilled – commitment to excellence, respect for people and a belief in doing the right thing – were not just talking points; they were the standard. Bill didn’t need to be in the room for his leadership to be felt. It was embedded in the DNA of the business.”

Bill Mann – another longtime operator and Tingue, Brown customer – worked with Bill Tingue for many years. Mann, who also formerly served as TRSA’s director of industry affairs, admired Bill Tingue’s dedication to his company, the industry and TRSA. “Bill was a true gentleman,” Mann said. “I had the greatest respect and admiration for him, his father and David. Bill was the first person to call me at TRSA when I started there, congratulating me and offering any help that he could give me in getting a good start in my new position. I also admired his loyalty to his employees and devotion to our industry. He was a great businessman.”

In remarks he gave after winning the Maglin/Biggie Award, David Tingue credited his father with a large measure of his own success. “I feel a bit overwhelmed by this honor, as it has me reflecting on the many individual mentors and influencers in my life. Above all is my father, Bill Tingue. Dad showed me that you can come out on top while acting like a gentleman.”

Several laundry industry organizations have honored Bill Tingue’s record of achievement. He also was a founding board member of the American Reusable Textile Association (ARTA) and served on TRSA’s board of directors as well.

Outside of the linen, uniform and facility services business, Bill Tingue enjoyed golf, fly-fishing and other outdoor activities with his wife, Dookie, near their home in Sun Valley, ID. He also greatly enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.

Survivors include Dookie; a daughter, Margret Shuford (Robert); sons, David (Andrea) and Chris; plus four grandchildren, John (Hannah), Anna, Darby and Hayden.

A memorial service is expected later this year.