In the 1980's, Wanek developed global sourcing, becoming one of the first manufacturers to both source and sell around the world. He also introduced the industry's most successful polyester finishes bringing color to wood furniture.

Ron Wanek, founder of Ashley Furniture Industries, is known in his community and in the furniture industry for his ethics and strong family values. He has been married to his wife, Joyce, for 45 years.

Ron Wanek, founder of furniture manufacturing giant Ashley furniture, was inducted into the American Furniture Hall of Fame (AFHF) Tuesday during the 18th Annual AFHF Banquet in High Point, North Carolina.

Ronald G. Wanek, born in 1941, founded Ashley Furniture Industries in the early 1970's. Since that time he has taken Ashley from being a modest manufacturer of occasional tables to the largest furniture manufacturer in the world and the second largest retailer in the United States in 2005.

Ron has made many landmark decisions to raise his business to the level you see today. In the 1970's he began using European flat line construction in wood furniture which offered both high quality and labor efficiencies. In the 1980's, he developed global sourcing, becoming one of the first manufacturers to both source and sell around the world. He also introduced the industry's most successful polyester finishes bringing color to wood furniture.

Wanek's most recent contribution to the industry was his development of Ashley Furniture HomeStores. This introduced the concept of selling in Ashley-branded stores while focusing on the needs of middle income consumers. With sales from independent stores and the Ashley-branded stores, he has developed what appears to be not only the industry's largest entity but also its fastest growing consumer brand.

His leadership in the furniture industry and his community has been recognized with numerous awards over his extensive career. Ron is known in his community and in the furniture industry for his ethics and strong family values. He has been married to his wife, Joyce, for 45 years. They have three children and nine grandchildren. He is a versatile man who, in his spare time, enjoys sculpting and is actively involved in politics.

Bobby W. Bush, retired vice president of sales of the Hickory Springs Manufacturing Company, and Charles T. Knabusch, former CEO of La-Z-Boy, were also inducted.

Bobby W. Bush, SR, (1931) is the retired vice president of sales of the Hickory Springs Manufacturing Company.

Bobby W. Bush
Bob Bush, Sr. is a member of the board of directors and retired vice president of sales of the Hickory Springs Manufacturing Company. He graduated from Riverside Military Academy in 1949 and from Duke University in 1953.

Over his 50 years of service, Mr. Bush built this family company into a business known for its quality, innovation and value.

Before the term "partnering" became an industry buzzword, Bob teamed with fledgling customers in the then developing southern furniture industry offering assistance, advice, and marketing ideas.

He recognized the importance of production proximity and timely delivery. He positioned Hickory Springs facilities where they could be a strategic advantage to customers who were unable to maintain large raw material inventories. Bush established a "Just In Time" delivery program in the 1960's.

His foresight of industry trends and pitfalls was invaluable during the formative period of the southern furniture industry. He worked closely with northern and southern manufacturers in terms of location, supply, design, credit and marketing to assure their on-going success.

His presence on the many boards of directors he serves assures knowledgeable, balanced, and intelligent contributions that at times are blunt but pertinent comments delivered with keen wit and humor. These include AFMA Suppliers Division, International Sleep Products Association, Polyurethane Foam Association, the Bienenstock Furniture Library and the American Furniture Hall of Fame.

Bob Bush is not just a brightly colored jacket and a smiling face. He remains a highly respected individual known for his honesty, integrity and outspokenness. Anyone can wear a brightly colored jacket…but no one can fill his shoes.

Edward M. Knabusch

Edward M. Knabusch
The son of La-Z-Boy co-founder, Edward M. Knabusch, Charles began working in the Monroe Payroll Department in 1961. He received his degree in Business Administration and Corporate Law from Cleary College in 1964. In 1965, he rejoined the company and held several positions until becoming President in August of 1972, succeeding his father. During his tenure, the company completed a series of acquisitions and mergers and consistently outperformed industry growth averages. He was named Chairman of La-Z-Boy in 1985.

After assuming the CEO post in 1985, Mr. Knabusch improved La-Z-Boy's sales to more than $1 billion annually from $52.7 million when he began his reign. Under his direction, La-Z-Boy became the largest upholstered furniture manufacturer in the U.S., and the world's largest producer of reclining chairs.

Charles held various furniture industry posts, including several years of service with the AFMA and its forerunners. He was on the original AFHF board of directors and was one of the organizations first supporters. In 1994 he was named among the nation's ten outstanding business leaders by Northwood University and in 1996, the governor of Michigan, John Engler, appointed him as a public representative to the Michigan National Resources Trust Fund.

The La-Z-Boy Museum & Archives was established in 1984 by Charles T. Knabusch. Located in the original structure built in 1927 by company co-founders, Edward M. Knabusch and Edwin J. Shoemaker, displays include 40 reclining chairs and other products representing a broad range of product history and evolution, and several items made by the founders before the invention and introduction of the famous recliners.

His is survived by his wife, June, four children, seven grandchildren, and one great grandchild.

The American Furniture Hall of Fame is an all-industry effort organized to honor those individuals whose outstanding achievements have contributed to the continued growth and development of the American manufactured furniture industry and to research, collect and preserve its cultural, economic and artistic history. For more information call (336) 882 5900.