Seven furniture industry leaders nominated for Hall of Fame

Seven industry leaders in manufacturing, retailing and design are nominated for election to the American Furniture Hall of Fame, the organization’s foundation has announced.

To nominate someone to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, members of the foundation had to submit a biography of the person explaining their professional achievements and civic involvement.

Of the people who were nominated, seven were selected as finalists. The members of the foundation will now have until July 31 to vote for who should be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

“As an industry, it is important that we stop to recognize and appreciate our leaders,” said Donald Belgrad, president of the Hall of Fame Foundation. “This year, seven individuals have been nominated by their peers as leaders who have had a remarkable impact on the furniture industry. Each inspires us with their leadership, service and integrity.”

Those elected will be installed during the High Point Market at a gala Oct. 21. To make reservations, call the Hall of Fame at (336) 882-5900.

The nominees are:

• Alfred J. Audi (1938- 2007), who with his wife, Aminy, transformed L. & J.G. Stickley from a company of fewer than 25 employees into a thriving international business with three factories and more than 1,600 employees.
• Wogan Stanhope Badcock, Jr. (1932-1996), who was president of Mulberry, Fla.-based retailer W.S. Badcock Corp., which was founded by his great-grandfather. During his 30-year tenure, he expanded the chain to more than 300 stores in the Southeast, paving the way for growth and innovation while maintaining a family-like atmosphere.
• Howard G. Haas (1924-), who was president and CEO of bedding major Sealy for 19 years. He increased revenues from $32 million to $550 million while making Sealy one of the most profitable companies in the industry. He is an adjunct professor in management at the University of Chicago and is co-author of the book, “The Leader Within.”
• Simon Kaplan (1924-), founder and CEO of Crest Furniture, doing business as Value City Furniture in Dayton, N.J. He began with a single store and expanded to seven retail locations and four Ashley Furniture HomeStores. He also helped form the Furniture Marketing Group, which today has 79 members with more than 500 stores.
• K. Bruce Lauritsen (1942- 2007), who rose from sales trainee in 1968 to president in 1989 and CEO in 1993 of manufacturer Flexsteel Inds. The company’s revenues grew from $19.9 million in 1968 to $425 million in 2007. Lauritsen launched Flexsteel’s first in-store gallery in 1984; today there are more than 600.
• Pasquale Natuzzi (1940-), founder, chairman and chief designer of the Natuzzi Group, the world’s largest producer of leather sofas and Italy’s largest furniture manufacturer. Natuzzi transformed the industry by democratizing the leather sofa, a product once reserved for the elite. His company has annual revenues of 634.4 million euros and more than 8,000 employees, including the High Point-based Natuzzi USA staff.
• Adrian M. Pearsall (1926-), founder of Craft Associates, which he and his brother sold to the Lane Co. He later became a partner at Comfort Designs, retiring in 1991. He is known for his innovative designs, including the beanbag chair.