Kurt L. Darrow, President AFHF
The Board of Directors of the American Furniture Hall of Fame Foundation Inc. has elected new officers and board members, as well as appointed new members to the Hall of Fame Legacy Board.
Kurt L. Darrow, La-Z-Boy, Inc. has been elected Board president; Randy Ford, Leggett & Platt, first vice president; George Cartledge, III, Grand Home Furnishings, second vice president; and William D. Kimbrell, Star Furniture, secretary-treasurer. Jeff Cook will continue to serve on the executive committee as Board chairman.
New directors serving a three-year term are Pedro Capó, El Dorado Furniture; Eric Easter, Kittle’s Furniture; Larry Rogers, Sealy, Inc.; and Paul Toms, Chairman, Hooker Furniture Corp.
“In the past year, we have taken great strides in moving forward with several initiatives to preserve our industry’s history and honor our leaders” says Cook. “We have now published 12 of 40 oral histories, are in the process of developing the first comprehensive history of the industry and we have adopted a new nominations and elections process to expand the search for leaders worthy of induction into the Hall of Fame. “
“We are just starting Phase 2 of the website which now includes a search engine that will make it possible to use the site as a research tool as we start adding original information and materials,” he says. “Perhaps what is most special is that we are embracing the entire industry – retail, manufacturing and supply chain, merchandising, marketing and more – and we are getting ready to start collecting the stories that everyone loves to tell about our industry family.”
Re-elected members serving an additional three-year term are Gerry Borreggine, Therapedic Inc.; Jeff Cook, A.R.T. Furniture Inc.; Kurt Darrow, La-Z-Boy, Inc.; and Caroline Hipple, HB2 Resources.
Eric Hinshaw, of Kingsdown, Inc. is joining the Legacy Board.
The American Furniture Hall of Fame Foundation is open to all home furnishings industry companies, organizations and individuals that do business in the United States. Membership includes eligibility to vote for inductees into the American Furniture Hall of Fame, and the opportunity to help preserve the history and heritage of the industry. Memberships are $250 at the individual level, and $500 and $1,000 at the corporate level. All contributions are tax deductible. Checks should be made payable to American Furniture Hall of Fame Foundation Inc. and sent to 202 Neal Place, High Point, N.C. 27261.
The 2011 inductees – individuals who have made significant contributions to the growth and development of the U.S. furniture industry – will be honored with the American furniture industry’s highest honor at a gala banquet on October 23 at the High Point Market. For information, call 336.882.5900.
The American Furniture Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc. is an international, industry-wide organization founded to honor those individuals whose outstanding achievements have contributed to the continued growth and development of the U.S. furniture industry, as well as to research, collect and preserve our cultural, economic and artistic history. Membership includes eligibility to vote for inductees into the American Furniture Hall of Fame, and the opportunity to help preserve the history and heritage of the industry. The organization is based in High Point, North Carolina at 202 Neal Place, and can be reached at 336.882.5900.