High Point University professor Richard Bennington honored for service

Carolinas Chapter of the IFDA organized dinner held last week

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, November 15, 2010

HIGH POINT — Industry members turned out here last week to salute High Point University Professor Richard Bennington, who founded HPU's home furnishings programs in the early 1980s and has taught many students who have had successful careers.

High Point University’s Richard Bennington, third from left, was honored last week with a tribute dinner in his honor. Among the speakers were Eric Gatton, left, La-Z-Boy; Scott Miles, Havertys; Joe Carroll, McNeill Communications Group; Jim Wehrley, Richard Hargrove and Dennis Carroll, all of High Point University.

The Carolinas Chapter of the International Furnishings and Design Assn. organized the tribute dinner for Bennington, a longtime member of the chapter, in the ballroom of HPU's Plato S. Wilson Hall.
Bennington, the Paul Broyhill professor of home furnishings marketing at HPU, was feted by speakers including Eric Gatton of La-Z-Boy; Scott Miles of Havertys; Joe Carroll of McNeill Communications Group; Dennis Carroll, Elizabeth Dull, Richard Hargrove and Jim Wehrley, all of High Point University; and Dawn Brinson and Susan Connor from the Carolinas Chapter of IFDA.

Many former students who have gone on to successful furniture careers attended the dinner to pay homage to the professor whose mentoring, they said, proved invaluable as they transitioned from college to the working world. More than a dozen current students also came out to honor Bennington.

The Carolinas Chapter IFDA conceived the tribute dinner as a way to recognize Bennington for years of dedicated service and support to that organization and to the furnishings and design communities.

"Dr. Bennington has helped the IFDA in countless ways," said Connor, Carolinas Chapter president. "He is too modest to wave his own flag, so we thought we would do it for him."

Bennington has served as president, benefit sale chair, and as a member of the chapter's executive board.

"Richard helped us achieve remarkable results with our annual benefit sales since he knows everyone in the industry and no one says ‘no' to him," said Connor. The chapter has raised more than $200,000 in scholarship money through the benefit sales.

In addition, Bennington is author of the textbook "Furniture Marketing, From Product Development to Distribution" and the research study "Current Merchandising Practices by Furniture Manufacturers." He has been a speaker and panel member for the furniture market in Madrid, Spain, and a judge for the International Furniture Design Competition in China.