IHFRA to honor Ray, DeFehr at market
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, March 10, 2003
High Point — Veteran sales representative Charles Ray and Palliser leader Art DeFehr will be honored by the International Home Furnishings Representatives Assn. at a market event April 3.
Ray will receive IHFRA's Harold P. Braun Distinguished Service Award and DeFehr will be named a Pillar of the Industry.
They will be saluted at the Ninth Annual Furniture Industry Awards Gala in the International Home Furnishings Center Ballroom.
Ray is a former IHFRA president who operates Norwalk Furniture designer showrooms in Dallas and Atlanta. In his 20-plus years with Norwalk, he also has been general manager of five Norwalk — The Furniture Idea stores in Atlanta and regional vice president of retail development. He has been a champion of continuing education.
DeFehr is president and chief executive officer of Palliser, Canada's largest producer of assembled household furniture with estimated annual sales of C$500 million.
In addition to his work at Palliser, DeFehr has worked for decades for humanitarian causes at home and worldwide. Palliser donates 12% of its pretax income to a charity, the DeFehr Foundation.
