American Furniture Hall Of Fame Inducts Four For 2002

Furniture World Magazine

The American Furniture Hall of Fame celebrated the opening night of the High Point Fall Furniture Market by naming and inducting four new Members during the fourteenth Annual Banquet Gala in the International Horne Furnishings Center Ballroom. William H. "Bill" Child is chief executive officer of K. C. Willey Company, one of American's top retail home furnishings companies; Wallace "Jerry" Epperson, Jr. managing director of Mann, Armistead and Epperson, has provided the furniture industry with something it lacked ... an analytic and focused resource for home furnishings research and knowledge; Charles E. Hayworth) Jr. was CEO of Hayworth Industries, Alma Desk, Clarendon Industries. Hayworth Roll and Panel, Liberty Veneer and Myrtle Desk and was chairman of the Southern Furniture Exposition Building (IHFC) fro,,,- 1986-1993; and Andrew Major, trailblazer, a preeminent textile pioneer is the former president of Collins and Aikman Decorative Fabrics, the world's leading fabric group. Joe Richardson III, President of The American Furniture Hall of Fame assisted by Joe Carroll, AFHF First Vice President, made the presentations. Other nominees who were presented include William Lorton Cook, Spencer Colie Kittenger, Leon Jerome Levitz, Irwin Lowenstein and Morton Seaman. Expanded member accomplishments include: William H. "Bill" Child (b 1932) has been chief executive officer of R. C. Willey Company for over 40 years. When he assumed management responsibilities in 1914, the company was deeply in debt. He not only saved the company, but with his leadership abilities, created one of America's top home furnishings enterprises moving it from annual sales of $250,000 to a powerful organization of 2,500 employees and $500 million in sales. R. C. Willey is now a part of Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway Company. Wallace "Jerry" Epperson, Jr. (b 1948) has provided the furniture industry with something it lacked, a focused and analytic resource on home furnishings research and data. By using proficiency in markets, mergers, acquisitions, and talents, both writing and speaking, he has made himself an invaluable industry asset. Jerry developed his skills at Scott & Stringfellow, Wheat First Securities and Mann, Armistead and Epperson. He is a chartered financial analyst, a NASD registered representative and publishes The Furnishings Digest Monthly. Charles E. Hayworth, Jr. (b 1913 - d 1994), was CEO of Hayworth Industries, Alma Desk, Clarendon Industries, Hayworth Roll and Panel, Liberty Veneer and Myrtle Desk. While he was chairman of the Southern Furniture Exposition Building (now IHFC) from 1986-1993, and on the Board of Directors for some forty years, it became the world's preeminent furniture showroom. He also worked to make the Radisson Hotel a reality. Mr. Hayworth served as Vice Chairman of the Board of High Point University and worked to establish the Home Furnishings program there in the early 1970's. He and his family are major benefactors of High Point University, endowing several major buildings. Andrew Major (b 1921) is a preeminent textile pioneer. As former president of Collins and Aikman Decorative Fabrics, he presided over the world's leading fabric group consisting of Mastercraft Fabrics, C&A Home Fabrics, C&A Velvets, Mastercraft Contract, Doblin Fabrics, Greeff and Warner Fabrics. He joined Mastercraft in 1946, became president in 1960, assumed ownership in 1969, and is responsible for the company's meteoric rise, which today provides employment for 3,500 and sales in excess of $350 million. In recognition of his 48 years of service, the original Mastercraft plant was renamed the "Andrew Major Plant". The American Furniture Hall of Fame is an all-industry effort organized to honor nor those individuals whose outstanding achievements have contributed to the continued growth and development of the American manufactured furniture industry, and to research, collect and preserve its cultural, economic and artistic history. For more information call (336) 882-5900 or visit www.furninfo.com/afhf