Former longtime head of Central KY appliance, furniture store dies
“I’d rather have your friendship than your business.”
For more than 40 years, Brig. Gen. Bruce Wayne Pieratt repeated the line to his Central Kentucky customers at Pieratt’s Inc., the home appliance family business his father opened the year Pieratt was born.
Family and friends say his legacy is one of generosity and devotion to family, faith and community.
He died Aug. 17 in Lexington at the age of 79.
“Bruce had a passion for thoroughbred racing, boating and spending time filling friends’ and families’ lives with laughter,” his obituary said. “Of all his accomplishments, Bruce was most proud of his family. He often said his greatest joy in life was raising three strong, independent daughters. ... His role as ‘Bootsea’ to their eight grandchildren was his most cherished title.”
Born to Henry Frank and Virginia Henderson Pieratt in 1946, Bruce Pieratt — known later as “the General,” “Batman” and “Bootsea” — grew up in Lexington with his close-knit family alongside his brothers, Tom and Steve, and sister, Brenda, according to his obituary.
Pieratt was a Lafayette High School student athlete, earning All-City, All-Central Kentucky and All-State honors in football under his coach, Roy Walton.
He attended Oklahoma State University on a full athletic scholarship. He was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity and played football for four years under coach Phil Cutchin, who was from Kentucky and played quarterback for the Wildcats under Paul “Bear” Bryant.
After graduating, Pieratt returned to Lexington, where he married Patricia Maxwell, whom he’d met in the seventh grade.
In 1968, he joined the Army National Guard as a combat engineer army officer before being promoted to brigadier general.
Pieratt then came home to work alongside his father, brothers, brothers-in-law and nephews running the family business that became one of Central Kentucky’s most trusted retailers.
The Pieratt’s Inc. store first opened in 1946 on High Street in Lexington, where Pieratt’s father repaired radios and small appliances and did in-home demonstrations.
A few years later, the store relocated to Euclid Avenue and began selling new radios and TVs. By 1952, the store expanded into selling other major home appliances and opened a second store on Winchester Road that, for more than 40 years, served as a main office and showroom.
Bruce Pieratt was promoted to president and CEO of the family business in 1988 and was the head of the company until 2021, according to its website. Under his leadership, the store expanded its services into Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee. Herald-Leader readers have nominated the store numerous times as their favorite place to buy appliances and furniture.
Because of Pieratt, “the business grew into a cornerstone of our community — built on trust, service, and a commitment to excellence,” a Facebook post from the store, now owned and operated by Michael Wells and Graham Jones, said Aug. 18.
“Beyond the business, he was known for his generosity, quiet strength, and deep care for those around him,” the post said. “Many of us have been touched by his kindness and leadership in ways big and small.
“His legacy will live on in the values of the business and the lives he impacted along the way.”
On an online tribute wall for Pieratt, Jerry Kuykendall said he and his wife “bought everything from Pieratt’s often sight unseen, just whatever Pieratt recommended.
“Our friendship extends nearly 60 years. Pieratt was a grand gentleman and a legacy for Lexington.”
Mark Enderle said on the tribute wall that “Bruce’s sharp mind and unwavering integrity made our business dealings a pleasure, but it was his warmth, humor, and zest for life that truly defined our bond.”
Tom Padgett, who said he attended school with Pieratt, said his company never bought furniture anywhere other than Periatt’s.
“I always marveled at how they maintained preeminence with all the competition from the big box stores,” he wrote. “Everything Pieratt did was exemplary.”
Pieratt was a long-time supporter of the University of Kentucky and was active in the UK Fellows Society, K Club and Wildcat Club. He served on the Central Bank Lexington Advisory Board, the Better Business Bureau of Central and Eastern Kentucky and other community organizations.
A memorial service and celebration of life for Pieratt is being held at 1:30 p.m, Sunday Aug. 24., at the Thoroughbred Club of America in Lexington off Versailles Road near Keeneland.
This story was originally published August 22, 2025 at 3:37 PM.
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