Glenn O. Thornhill, Jr.
From scissors to computerized cutting, Glenn O. Thornhill, Jr. has watched his family’s business, Maid Bess Corp., started by his father in 1936, grown into a multi-plant manufacturer of approximately 20,000 dozen garments per week. The business now employs 2,000 workers. High product standards and smart management have boosted Maid Bess to its prestigious place in its competitive field: “I think we outperform industry standards in terms of reinvestment in plant and equipment,” says Thornhill. “We continually invest in what we think is state-of-the-art equipment, primarily to get greater productivity. And the payback s there, maybe not in one year or even three years, but its there in the long term.”
Machines alone are not the sole success of the Thornhill operations. Maid Bess currently offers its employees plans in health and life insurance, wellness, and 401-K retirement; up to three weeks paid vacation; a credit union; a non-smoking facility; English as a second language classes; and a Company minister. However, up-to-date machines and benefits are not all it takes to make a happy, productive group of workers—a 29-year employee at the time nominated Glenn, Jr. and he was named Bobbin’s 1993 CEO of the Year. Giving his employees the credit for the company’s success, and continuing with his “hands-off” type of management, empowerment to make decisions on their own, Thornhill is able to focus on the long-range planning of eight to ten years down the road.
This recognized leader in the manufacture of career appeal graduated from Andrew Lewis High School in Salem, where he was named the member Most Likely to Succeed of his 1959 graduating class, and after full involvement in the school scene that encompassed four years in the Latin Club and Classical League, school newspaper reporting, Hi-Y Club and other groups, including varsity football. Glenn continued his studies at Washington and Lee University where he is now a member of the board.
Glenn O. Thornhill, Jr. is very proud of his wife Joanne and their children: Christine; Glenn, III; Wyatt; Kelly; and David.
Community involvement finds Glenn, Jr. a 15-year member of the Salem School Board and the head leader at various times of the Roanoke Symphony Society; the Arts Museum of Western Virginia; the United Way of Roanoke Valley; the Salem/Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce; the News Century Council, and many more. He has been a member and contributor to various organizations that benefit the Salem-Roanoke Valley area . Examples include the Brian H. Thornhill Memorial Endowment and Roanoke College Fund.
As Melva Wright, who nominated Thornhill for the Bobbin award said, “You couldn’t ask for a nicer, better boss. He’s very considerate, he’s also concerned bout you and your family and he’s an excellent person to work for. He does so much good for everybody.”
In recognition of his outstanding career achievements, in 1996 Glenn O. Thornhill, Jr. was among the charter members inducted into the Salem Alumni Hall of Fame established by the Salem Educational Foundation and Alumni Association.
