Lawrence Marcus Dies at 96

Lawrence Marcus, last-remaining son of Neiman Marcus co-founder Herbert Marcus, died last week of kidney and heart disease. He was 96.

One of four brothers, Lawrence – known as “Lawrie” – joined the company in 1942, enlisted in the Army during World War Two, and returned in 1944.

In a wide-ranging career, according to the Women’s Wear Daily obituary, he helped launch the careers of designers Emilio Pucci, James Galanos and Bill Blass; bought automobile upholstery during the war and had it used for tailored suits and dresses; energized the downtown Neiman Marcus store in Houston and supervised construction of the Houston Galleria; and managed the downtown Dallas flagship store before retiring.

Karen Katz, president and ceo of the Dallas-based Neiman Marcus Group, called him “an idea man and a master of marketing” and also “a connoisseur of luxury and elegance.”