Six nominated for Hall of Fame
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, October 10, 2005
High Point — The ballots may be in, but inductees into the American Furniture Hall of Fame won't be announced until a gala here on Thursday, Oct. 20 during market.
The inductees will join 65 industry leaders already in the Hall of Fame, for accomplishments contributing to the industry's growth and development. The six nominees are:
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Bobby Wesley "Bob" Bush Sr., a board member and retired vice president of sales at supplier Hickory Springs Mfg. During his more than 50 years with Hickory Springs, he built his family company into a business known for its quality, innovation and value. He played a vital role during the formative period of the Southern furniture industry, helping manufacturers with location, supply, design, credit and marketing to make them successful.
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Arnold Dwight England, who founded England/Corsair Upholstery Mfg. in 1964 to establish an employment base in his Tennessee hometown. He was instrumental in helping northeast Tennessee become a furniture producing area, reducing the unemployment rate from 20% to 4%. By 1991, England Inc. was the county's largest employer. In the industry, the company became known for its guaranteed quick delivery. La-Z-Boy acquired England/Corsair in 1995, the year of England's death.
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Charles A. Greene, founder, CEO and president of Classic Gallery, who started the business in 1972. Greene said he realized that furniture wasn't marketed to showrooms and design shops like it was to department stores, and tailored a sales force to that need. He also worked for a number of retailers, KayLyn Furniture and Dun and Bradstreet.
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Rawson Haverty Sr., chairman emeritus and CEO of Atlanta-based retailer Haverty's. He worked his way up through the family business, elevating it to strong growth and performance. Haverty is known for his generosity to the industry and to education.
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Jacob "Jake" Jabs, a founding owner, president and CEO of American Furniture Warehouse of Englewood, Colo. Forty years after starting a music store, he owns and manages the multi-store retail operation, which has grown from $17 million in business in 1979 to an estimated $310 million last year.
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Robert H. Spilman, retired president, chairman and CEO of Bassett Furniture Inds. He started in sales and worked his way up, serving as Bassett's president for more than 20 years. Under his guidance, the company became a full-line manufacturer by adding recliners and motion, home office, bedding, and youth and infant furniture.
Ballots containing the six nominees were sent to AFHF sponsors, and were turned in by Sept. 15. A CPA firm is secretly tallying them, and the results will be announced during the 17th annual AFHF Induction Banquet in High Point.
