Bob Carrier, founder and first president of the National Association of Independent Publishers Representatives, died of cancer on Monday, November 7, at his home in North Carolina. He was 71 years old.
From 1975 to 1991 Carrier headed The Book Carrier, a rep group in the Mid-Atlantic states. In the spring of 1989, he contacted the heads of other rep groups around the country to meet in Washington during the ABA show to discuss the need for a national organization of commission book reps. Under his leadership, NAIPR’s bylaws were drafted and were approved at a formal meeting in New York City the following December.
Three years later Bob and his wife, Jennifer Carrier, left the book business to work as realtors in Florida, where he had a successful career for close to 20 years. Bill Hoar and Ted Wedel, longtime associates at the Book Carrier, founded Chesapeake and Hudson to continue serving the book trade in the Northeast.
In addition to his wife and their son, Carrier is survived by this first wife, Barbara Carrier, and their three daughters and by his sister, Mrs. Richard (Nancy) Bye.
Contributions in Carrier’s memory can be made to NAIPR at NAIPR.org.
