Dallas – Industry veteran John Feizy, who founded Feizy Rugs more than 50 years ago, died July 13. He was 83.
John Hosein Feizy was born in Arak, Iran, in 1942 and emigrated to the U.S. in 1963. He attended Central State University (now University of Central Oklahoma) in Edmond, Oklahoma, working multiple jobs to pay his tuition and earning a business degree.
He founded Feizy Rugs in 1973, following a family tradition of buying, selling and collecting rugs that spanned four generations. What began as a small retail rug store carrying only fine and hand-knotted rugs would become a leading wholesale supplier of handmade and machine-made rugs with showrooms in Dallas, High Point and Las Vegas.
“John was more than the visionary behind Feizy Rugs—he was a father figure to so many of us,” said Michael Riley, company president. “His wisdom, warmth, and boundless dedication shaped the culture of our company and the lives of everyone who had the privilege to work alongside him.”
“At this time, we ask our friends and colleagues to take a moment to reflect on John’s incredible accomplishments and know that to him, his absolute greatest accomplishment other than his family was being able to support so many other families both here and abroad, something he believed to be the single most important function of the company,” Riley added.
From the company’s earliest days, Feizy traveled to the weaving capitals of the world where he personally selected his inventory. With the company’s flagship showroom in the Dallas World Trade Center, Feizy began to deal exclusively with trade. Recognizing the demand for unique programmed rugs, he expanded his operation to include rug designers in Dallas and overseas.
He later opened a factory in Turkey in 2000. To this day, Feizy Rugs says it is the only American company to wholly own its own factory, Covtex-Feizy.
Feizy is survived by his wife Janice, and their children, Leah and Cameron, who remain active in the company.
“Feizy Rugs was never just a company, it is a family,” said Cameron Feizy, company CEO. “My father spoke often of how deeply he cared for everyone involved and how grateful he was for their commitment and hard work. His wish was for all of us to persevere together through this difficult time.”
Services will be private. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to Feed My Starving Children or Operation Kindness| Texas Lifesaving Animal Shelter.