business in 1904 to a group of local Marshalltown businessmen, led by David Windsor Norris, a local business and civic leader and owner of the local newspaper, the Marshalltown Times Republican. According to company records, the sales price was $57,789.14. Norris began operating the company under the name Lennox Furnace Company. The company grew across the United States throughout the first half of the 20th century, expanded into the air conditioning industry in the early 1950s, and was renamed Lennox Industries. Expanding further into commercial refrigeration and international markets, Lennox Industries became Lennox International Inc. in 1984. After 95 years of private ownership by the Norris family, the company now known as Lennox International made its initial public offering in 1999 and is currently traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "LII." Later enterprises Following the sale of his furnace business, Dave Lennox continued to manage the Lennox Machine Company in Marshalltown, employing more than 100 people locally in the manufacture of portable gasoline engines, boilermakers' tools, wagon scales and pressured pipe taps. Lennox sold the Lennox Machine Shop in 1912 to the Ryerson Brothers of Chicago for $110,000, but continued to work in a small machine shop behind his Marshalltown home during his subsequent retirement. Lennox died at his home in Marshalltown on February 15, 1947, at the age of 91. Since 1972, two actors have portrayed Dave Lennox in advertising campaigns for Lennox-branded air conditioners, furnaces, and indoor air quality products. From 1972 until his death in 1986, Lennox was portrayed by Hollywood actor Bill Tracy, whose photo still appears on many Lennox dealer trucks and advertising. Tracy was originally hired because he had hands that looked worn like a real working man. Lennox was then portrayed by Bob Tibbets St. Louis-based actor and radio personality, who portrayed Lennox on TV and radio, as well as home shows and dealer events. until his retirement in December 2016, after 30 years. References Text of interviews with Dave Lennox family members ca. 1962, Lennox International company archives A Century of Comfort: Lennox: The First Hundred Years 1895-1995, centennial publication printed by Lennox International Inc. Various newspaper feature articles, Marshalltown, Iowa Times-Republican, 1960–1995 American inventors People from Marshalltown, Iowa American businesspeople 1855 births 1947 deaths