Gerrard Wendell Haworth (October 11, 1911 - October 25, 2006), better known as G. W. Haworth, was the founder of office furniture manufacturer Haworth

Haworth (company)

Haworth designs and manufactures adaptable workspaces, including raised floors, movable walls, systems furniture, seating, storage and wood casegoods. Family-owned and privately held, Haworth is headquartered in Holland, Michigan in the United States. Haworth serves markets in more than 120...

.

Born in Nebraska, he moved to Benton Harbor, Michigan

Benton Harbor, Michigan

Benton Harbor is a city in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan which is located west of Kalamazoo. The population was 10,038 at the 2010 census. It is the lesser populated of the two principal cities included in the Niles-Benton Harbor, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a...

 in 1926, where he attended high school. After graduating from Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....

, he taught industrial arts at Holland High School in Holland, Michigan

Holland, Michigan

Holland is a city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, which is fed by the Macatawa River ....

. Haworth also studied at the University of Michigan

University of Michigan

The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...

.

Hoping to earn extra money to put his children through college, Haworth started a woodworking shop in his garage in 1945. Three years later, he quit teaching to focus on his new company full time, which was known as Modern Products.

In 1975, his company moved to a new facility along M-40

M-40 (Michigan highway)

M-40 is a north–south state trunkline highway in the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. The highway runs from US Highway 12 near the Indiana state line in Porter Township north through Paw Paw and Allegan to end in the outskirts of Holland...

. In recognition of the move, the company became Haworth, Inc. In 2003, he cut back from working five days a week to three.

In 2005, G. W. Haworth retired completely from the company he started. Haworth died on the morning of October 25, 2006, aged 95.

Philanthropy

G. W. Haworth was a major supporter of many West Michigan causes.

Western Theological Seminary

Western Theological Seminary

Western Theological Seminary is a professional and graduate school in Holland, Michigan affiliated with the Reformed Church in America....

, Hope College

Hope College

Hope College is a medium-sized , private, residential liberal arts college located in downtown Holland, Michigan, a few miles from Lake Michigan. It was opened in 1851 as the Pioneer School by Dutch immigrants four years after the community was first settled...

, Grand Valley State University

Grand Valley State University

Grand Valley State University is a public liberal arts university located in Allendale, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1960, and its main campus is situated on approximately west of Grand Rapids...

 his alma mater Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....

 as well as the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Holland have all benefited from Haworth's donations.