Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, August 6, 1994 TAG: 9408080053
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MATT CHITTUM
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Baldwin, a native of Grayson County, founded the company in the mid-1970s with Arthur Jones, who invented the exercise machine.
Baldwin was a U.S. Marine pilot during the Korean War, and after the war, worked as a commercial pilot for Jones. Jones began working on the now-famous Nautilus exercise machine in the late 40s. By 1970, he had become more serious about developing and marketing the machine, and brought Baldwin into the business.
"He made me an offer I couldn't refuse, so to speak," Baldwin told a reporter in 1981.
It was Baldwin's idea to build the first manufacturing plant in Grayson County. For many years, that plant manufactured all of the equipment for the company, which distributed it all over the world.
"It's not luck," Baldwin once said of the company's success. "Luck is when opportunity and preparation meet."
In 1986, Baldwin resigned as president of the company and manager of the Grayson plant, but bought back into it in 1990. He stayed on as chairman after the company was sold to Delta Woodside Industries of Greenville, S.C.
Baldwin was a resident of Galax when he died. He left the area at age 10 when his parents moved to Pennsylvania, but it always remained important to him.
In 1985, Baldwin bought the 77-year-old Independence courthouse for $110,525 just to keep it from being bought by someone who might destroy it. He eventually gave it outright to an organization devoted to its restoration.
"I never liked anywhere except here," Baldwin said in a 1985 interview. "I never really felt good anywhere else."
by CNB