Luther Henderson, 82; Turned Pier 1 Imports Into a Major Retailer

Luther Henderson, 82, leader of an investment group that bought Pier 1 Imports in 1966 and turned the company into a national retailer, died Saturday in Fort Worth of injuries sustained in a traffic accident two weeks earlier.

Henderson served as Pier 1’s chairman and president and founder-chairman from 1966 to 1983, and its chairman from 1983 to 1985. He served as a director and founder-chairman from 1985 until 1993.

Born in Fort Worth in 1920, he earned a bachelor’s degree at Texas Christian University and a master’s degree in business administration at Northwestern University. After serving in the Navy during World War II, he joined the family business, Chickasaw Lumber Co.

He joined Tandy Corp. in the late 1950s and became vice president, treasurer and a director. In 1962, the company bought a San Mateo gift shop called Cost Plus Imports, which specialized in inexpensive items from Asia.

Henderson was put in charge of the company, which was renamed Pier 1 Imports in 1964.

After the investor group purchased Pier 1 in 1966, Henderson oversaw the company’s growth to more than 750 outlets and from small shops to full-line home furnishing stores.