KILZ history

Sales increased rapidly, topping $1 million by 1958.

In 1959 Masco bought a separate plant in Greensburg, Indiana for faucet manufacturing.

He engineered Masco's first major acquisition in 1961, that of Peerless Industries, Inc., a manufacturer of plumbing products, to widen Masco's production capabilities.

By 1962, Delta faucet sales reached $7 million and accounted for more than half of Masco's sales.

Masco headquarters moved in 1967 to new facilities in Taylor, Michigan.

In 1968 Richard Manoogian was made president of Masco, and Alex Manoogian became chairman of the board.

In 1969, Masco was listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Foreign sales in 1973 accounted for four percent of the company's total, increasing one year later to seven percent.

Masco continued to introduce new models over the next few years, and by 1975 had increased its market share to 22 percent.

CB sales continued to soar at the beginning of 1976, but, by the end of the year, the supply of CBs exceeded demand.

1978 Behr enters a retail relationship with the The Home Depot.

After nearly 20 years of experience in the manufacture of chemical, paints and adhesives, our founder, Jerry J. Patterson formed Master Adhesives, Inc. in 1979 in Norcross, Georgia.

In 1980, while automobile production slowed 24 percent, Masco worked with car manufacturers on design, to create additional car parts.

In 1983 Masco acquired Brass Craft Manufacturing Company, a maker of plumbing supplies.

1984 Behr named The Home Depot Partner of the Year for the first time.

Wayne B. Lyon became president of Masco in 1985, and Richard Manoogian served as chairman and CEO of both Masco Corporation and Masco Industries.

1986 Behr enters the paint market, introduces BEHR® PREMIUM PLUS® Paint.

1988 Behr introduces computer color matching.

In 1989 earnings declined, and Masco Corporation's stock sold at discounted rates, due to investor uncertainty about the future of the home improvement sector.

Prospects had improved by 1993 thanks to a restructuring and an improving economy and Masco took advantage of MI's stronger position by reducing its stake in its sister company that year to 35 percent.

1994 Behr enters a retail partnership with The Home Depot Canada.

In November 1995 Masco announced that Morgan Stanley Capital Partners would buy the furniture unit for nearly $1.2 billion, but in January of the following year the deal was abandoned without explanation.

During this period the company also made an effort to establish a stronger niche in the Japanese home furnishings market, establishing Masco Japan Ltd. in February 1998.