Bobby W. "Bob" Bush, sr.
Mr. Bob Bush, Sr. (b.1931 d. 2010), devoted his entire professional career to Hickory Springs Manufacturing Company where he served as executive vice president of sales before retiring. Born in Rahway, N.J., he graduated from Riverside Military Academy in 1949 and Duke University in 1953, where he was a Phi Beta Kappa. Mr. Bush spent most of his summers as a youth working at Hickory Springs and joined the company full-time after graduation.
Those who worked with Mr. Bush described him as one of the chief architects of the company's foundation and success. Over his 50 years of service, Mr. Bush built the family company into a business known for its quality, innovation and value.
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. Mr. Bush established a "Just In Time" delivery program in the 1960s.
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 ensure their ongoing success.
Mr. Bush's contributions to the home furnishings industry include serving as the second president of the American Furniture Manufacturers Association's Suppliers Council and serving on the boards of the International Sleep Products Association, Polyurethane Foam Association, the Bienenstock Furniture Library and the American Furniture Hall of Fame Foundation. He was inducted into the American Furniture Hall of Fame in 2006. He was awarded the Exceptional Service Award and the Robert MacMorran Award by the International Sleep Products Association. In 2008, Mr. Bush was awarded Alumni of the Year from Riverside Military Academy.
Mr. Bush was not just a brightly colored jacket and a smiling face. He was a highly respected individual known for his compassion, honesty and outspokenness.