8 nominated for Hall of Fame

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, June 7, 2010

HIGH POINT - Eight industry leaders in manufacturing, retailing and design, including a pair of two-person teams, have been nominated for election to the American Furniture Hall of Fame.

Birnbach

Capó

Day

     "This year's slate represents some of the best from the breadth of our industry, including retailers, manufacturers, designers and suppliers," said Jeff Cook, president of the American Furniture Hall of Fame Foundation. "Each stands for leadership and innovation in their fields and has positively impacted the home furnishings industry. It is an impressive slate."
     The voting period begins June 28 and ends July 30. Only members of the organization are eligible to vote.
     Those elected will be installed during the High Point Market at a gala Oct. 17. The organization is based in High Point and can be reached at (336) 882-5900.
The nominees are:
     ► Gerald Birnbach, who started at Rowe Furniture Co. as a salesman in 1956. Later as chairman, he grew the upholstery manufacturer into a public company listed on the New York Stock Exchange before it was sold to Sun Capital in 2007.

S. Harris

D. Harris

G. Massood

     ► Manuel Capó (1925-2009), who grew his family business, El Dorado Furniture, into one of the top 50 furniture stores in the United States.
     ► Thomas Day (1801-1861), a free black business owner and master craftsman who became a leading furniture maker in the mid-1800s.
     ► Darrell and Stella Harris, who founded and have grown Furnitureland South into the world's largest retail furnishings showplace at 1.3 million square feet, and an international furniture shopping destination.

M. Massood

Timberlake

     ► Michael and George Massood, who have worked at MGM Transport for more than 50 years to deliver furniture with efficiency, using innovate methods. The Massoods also are involved in Thomasville and Bassett stores in New Jersey.
     ► Bob Timberlake, an internationally recognized artist who partnered with Lexington Home Brands in 1990 to create The World of Bob Timberlake, a groundbreaking, theme-based furniture collection.