IHFRA honors Costar
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, April 30, 2007
High Point — The International Home Furnishings Representatives Assn. has renamed its Dean of IHFRA Award the Charles B. Costar Dean of IHFRA Award to honor Costar, a longtime member and officer of the organization.
Newly installed IHFRA President Richard Gillispie made the surprise announcement about the change at this year's presidential gala here, where Costar was master of ceremonies. Gillispie said the move is in recognition of Costar's dedicated service and loyalty to the rep group.
Costar, who has represented Hooker Furniture in Florida since 1982 and earlier was with American of Martinsville for 12 years, plans to retire in May.
He joined the Florida HFRA in 1970 and became an IHFRA member in 1971. He served as president of the Florida chapter in 1984–85 and became IHFRA's national president in 1994. He won the group's Distinguished Service Award in 1999 and was named a Dean of IHFRA in 2001.
He was one of the original organizers of the association's March on Washington lobbying effort in the 1990s and has taken part in every march since.
Costar's brother-in-law, former U.S. Rep. Clay Shaw, R-Fla., was an advocate of IHFRA and its causes.
