Gardner Glass Products CEO Tommy Huskey passes away

Gardner Glass Products CEO Freddie Thomas "Tommy" Huskey died, Nov. 27, due to complications stemming from a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. A leader in the mirror and glass industry, Huskey's 35-year career began as a territory sales rep for Carolina Mirror Co., where he quickly moved up the ranks to become regional sales manager, vice president of sales, and ultimately president and CEO. In the fall of 1996, Huskey joined Gardner Glass Products as executive vice president of sales and marketing. The Gardner family named him president in 1998, and in February of 1999, Huskey and his management team led a successful buyout of the company. Under Huskey's direction as chairman and CEO, Gardner Glass Products introduced the Dreamwalls family of glass products in 1999.

"It’s important to remember that Tommy Huskey was the creator of the Dreamwalls vision for Gardner Glass Products, which is more than just an umbrella brand of value-added products," says Mandy Marxen, vice president of marketing. '“Dreamwalls is the very core of who we are and what we do. We wake up every day trying to find new products and new uses for our products on every surface of the living and working environment. And Tommy Huskey gave us that inspiration. The very idea to create an emotive marketing message for fabricated glass products was truly revolutionary to the industry then … and it still is today."

Huskey was an active member of The National Association of Mirror Manufacturers and the Glass Association of North America. Gardner Glass Products has been a National Glass Association member since 2009.Randy Brooks, president, and Melissa Lackey, CFO, will continue to manage day-to-day operations of Gardner Glass Products.

Huskey was active in his local community, participating in charities, athletic programs and his church. He is survived by his wife Alison, son Cole and stepdaughter Alaina; his brother Ronnie; and his mother, Cleo.

A celebration of life service will be held for Huskey on Sunday, December 4, 2011, at 4 pm at North Wilkes High School in North Wilkesboro, N.C. The family will receive at North Wilkes High School immediately following the service. Service details are available here.

Read a tribute to Tommy Huskey here.