Liston Durden, a longtime leader and friend of the U.S. appliance industry, passed away on Saturday.

Liston worked in the appliance industry for GE, KitchenAid, and Whirlpool, before joining newcomer Viking Range Corp. in 1989. In the decades that followed, Liston was instrumental in Viking's growth in the premium appliance sector.

Liston was also an active member of the AHAM family, and was a familiar face at Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers Annual Meetings. He was chairman of the AHAM board of directors from 2004 to 2006 and chairman of the Major Appliance Division board of directors from 2002 to 2004.

In 2007, AHAM honored Liston with its most prestigious award, the Home Appliance Industry Leader award.(Read the APPLIANCE magazine announcement here.)

"Liston’s perspective and view were unique," AHAM wrote. "He brought tremendous passion and many new ideas to the industry."

“The major appliance industry has lost a true icon in Liston Durden, who was widely known and respected as an appliance industry guru," said Fred Carl, founder, chairman and CEO of Viking Range Corp. "We had only been shipping product for two and a half years and were still a start-up when Liston joined Viking in 1989, and he helped me build this company over the ensuing years. Liston was a great teacher, and I learned a tremendous amount from him, for which I will be forever grateful. He was one of the finest, most caring and considerate people I have ever known. The planet will be different now that Liston is gone. This world desperately needs more people like Liston Durden.”

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