Henry A. “Hank” Truslow, former chairman and chief executive of Sunbury Textile Mills, died September 1, 2023. He waged an impressive six-year battle with Parkinson’s Disease before succumbing on July 10. Truslow, a giant in the field of textiles, was 86 years old. His leadership included service as chairman of the American Textile Manufacturers Institute and the Northern Textile Association.
Originally from Northumberland, Pa., Truslow first entered the textile industry in 1962. He began with Deering Milliken in New York on the floor as a salesman. This began an 18-year career with Milliken. He eventually climbed the ranks to general manager for two different divisions.
Truslow’s career was characterized by major public service commitments to the booming New England textile sector. As a principal, he was often the one laying the groundwork for others to follow by establishing industry standards and best practices. His stewardship of Sunbury Textile Mills and his service in leadership positions with national textile trade associations emphasized his dedication to the industry.
Truslow’s family has provided a photo of him for publication. An obituary listing his extraordinary life and accomplishments is available online.
His formative years at Milliken gave him the touchstone of experience in sales and management. The good fortune of this experience set him up for his later leadership roles. His former staffers recall him as a passionate and deeply intelligent transportation leader.
Truslow’s influence extended beyond his corporate roles. Because of the work he’d done with industry associations, he was in a position to push for the interests of textile manufacturers on a national scale. He was one of the most creative and strategic industry leaders, a thought leader who pushed his crews to excel and innovate.
