H. Mirza Amirkhan, the founder of The Oriental Rug Cleaning Co., died on December 24, 2012.

According to his obituary in the Dallas Morning News, Amirkhan “operated the family business from 1954 until his retirement in 2010. He served on the Board of Directors of the National Institute of Rug Cleaning and was a widely acknowledged expert on oriental rugs. His daughter, Ellen, entered the business in 1980 and serves as its president.”

He’s survived by his wife of 62 years, Inez Hunter Amirkhan; his son Dr. Nelson Amirkhan and his wife Dr. Robin Amirkhan; daughter Ellen Amirkhan; sister Dr. Mary Outlaw; brother-in-law Philip Hunter and his wife Maxine; several nieces and nephews and many friends.