Sam Kinnaird

Sam Kinnaird, age 84, died at the Bethesda Hospital in Boynton Beach, Florida on February 25 from complications of Parkinson's disease. Sam was a previous resident of Louisville, KY. and founder and co owner of Kinnaird and Francke Interiors and Sam Kinnaird's Flooring. Born in August 1931 in Metcalfe County, Kentucky, he later lived in Southern Indiana and graduated from Scottsburg High School and briefly attended Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky. Sam joined the Air Force at the end of the Korean War. His career included working for Reisz Furniture in New Albany, Indiana in the late 50's into the mid 60's. In August of 1967 he and Doug Francke, and his wife Pat formed Kinnaird & Francke Interiors in Louisville, with their main location on Shelbyville Road. From 1970 through 1982 Sam opened 12 more locations, throughout Kentucky, Southern Indiana and Georgia becoming one of the top 10 carpet retailers in the country. Sam was known for his promotional endeavors for the business including hot air ballooning. In 1983, the Kinnaird & Francke Interiors business was sold to a group of employees and Sam considered himself retired. In 1989 Sam met young entrepreneur Jim Mudd, who had approached him about opening a new floor covering business. In partnership with Jim, they opened Sam Kinnaird's Flooring. In 1999, Sam retired again, when Jim Mudd bought Sam's interest in the business. His competitive spirit included tennis, fishing with son, Todd and golf. He was preceded in death by his son Mark who died in in 1987. In addition to his wife of 59 years, Pat. Sam is survived by his daughter, Deborah Hardwick of Delaware, Ohio, and his son Todd Kinnaird of Hilton Head, South Carolina. He was especially fortunate to live near his granddaughter, Anna Talerico, her husband Justin, and great grand children, Rylan and Ella Talerico until the end of his life. Funeral service to be held Thursday at 12 noon at Pearson's 149 Breckenridge Lane Louisville, KY. (502-896-0349) Visitation 2 - 7 pm, Wednesday. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to The Parkinson's Support Center of Kentuckiana, 315 Townepark Circle, suite 100, Louisville, Kentucky, 40243.