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Bedding veterans recall Roy Unger's influence

David Perry -- Furniture Today, October 26, 2011

Roy UngerAT THE MARKET - The Ambassador of Sleep's long career in the mattress industry was recalled by family members and former colleagues who gathered here to salute an industry legend.

Roy Unger, whose mattress career spanned more than half a century and took him to key positions at Sealy, Serta and Simmons, was named an Industry Fellow by the American Furniture Hall of Fame.

Looking on at the Hall of Fame's festive dinner celebration were two of Unger's sons, Jim and Steve, and two bedding leaders he mentored: Former Simmons CEO Zenon Nie and Therapedic CEO Gerry Borreggine.

They recalled Unger, who died at age 83 in 2004, as a passionate, dedicated and caring leader.

Asked what Unger would think of the festivities honoring him for his bedding achievements, Steve Unger said: "He would be very pleased and gratified. He loved the industry."

Steve Unger runs a bed and breakfast in Portland, Ore.
Added Jim Unger, a professor at Ohio State: "He would be delighted to see how many guys looked up to him as a mentor. I don't think it registered with him how big his influence was."

"He didn't recognize how many lives he touched," added Zenon Nie, who heads the C.E.O. Advisory Board, a consulting firm. "It was people first and business second with him. He was great at nurturing people. He would ask: ‘What is holding you back?' and then seek to remove that barrier."

Nie, known as "Z" in his long bedding career, worked with Unger at Sealy, Serta and Simmons. Unger was one of the few top bedding executives to work at all three of the industry's biggest producers.

"I learned more from Roy Unger than anyone else in the business," Nie said.

Borreggine also counted Unger as a mentor. "Roy Unger set a standard of excellence and commitment to improvement that may never be equaled," he said. "He fostered excellence and a positive spirit in the many executives who he mentored, encouraged and nurtured over the years. And he was a builder of companies and of bedding brands as well. He truly earned the title of ‘The Father of the Modern Bedding Era.'"

Unger was one of six industry leaders installed as Industry Fellows at the Hall of Fame dinner. The others were Don Belgrad of Schnadig, Alex Bernhardt of Bernhardt, Lloyd/Flanders founder Don Flanders, Atlanta market developer John Portman, and Crate and Barrel co-founder Gordon Segal.

Each of the six was saluted in a video tribute.
Belgrad, Bernhardt and Segal were also inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Unger's spirit lives on in the many executives he mentored who remain active members of the mattress business today and remain thankful for what Unger contributed to their careers, Borreggine said.

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