No ordinary Joe
Posted September 6, 2018
When someone asks what I most admire about the textile industry, I invariably say, “good people.” That’s a phrase Joe Okey Jr. often uttered that stuck with me. I remember on more than one occasion discussing someone in particular, and he would say, “he’s good people.”
Unfortunately, we lost one of those “good people” last week. Okey, the former owner of American Monforts who most recently served in sales at Navis TubeTex/Marshall & Williams, died on August 30 after a courageous nine-month battle with pancreatic cancer. In brief conversations I had with him in recent months, he was always upbeat and optimistic. And, if you knew Joe, that is no surprise. He was the epitome of positivity and grace.
I was fortunate to have known Joe for about two decades, dating to my early days at Southern Textile News when I covered American Textile Machinery Association (ATMA) functions and other industry events. At these functions – from Puerta Vallarta to Paris, from Sanibel Island to Milan, from Charleston to Munich – it seemed like everyone knew Joe. Not only was he approachable, amiable and affable, but he was unforgettable, in a subtle, ethereal sort of way. His smile, laugh and merry mien were impactful.
After getting to know Joe, he often greeted me with the salutation “hey, Bubba.” That was a term of endearment he used on a number of friends and colleagues, and when I finally made Joe’s “Bubba Club,” I felt some kind of special.
And Joe was an understated leader of our industry. As an industry supplier, he was a member of the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) and its predecessor group, the American Textile Manufacturers Institute (ATMI). He was a gentle, reasonable voice working behind the scenes trying to get the industry’s message to lawmakers at the local, state and federal level. He helped make a difference during the dark days, and lived – and worked – long enough to see this great industry emerge on the other side of the seemingly endless tunnel.
Even with the industry on the upswing, he certainly wasn’t ready to hit the links full time after selling American Monforts a few years ago. Already in his 70s, he was offered a sales position Navis TubeTex/Marshall & Williams by Will Motchar (a former competitor and fellow ATMA board member), and he eagerly accepted.
I could go on and on about Joe Okey, but I think I’ll let others who knew him share their thoughts and memories of this fine man. (Read their comments below.) As you can read, he was no ordinary Joe – he was just “good people.”
R.I.P, my friend.
(Note: To read Okey’s obituary, please click here. His service will take place Saturday, September 15 at 2 p.m. at Central Church of God 5301 Sardis Road, Charlotte, N.C. 28270.)
Previous blog posts
• Opioid crisis hits home for textile leader and family (August 30, 2018)
• Martin Foil was a powerful, longtime voice in the industry (August 9, 2018)
• SYFA REVIEW: What's giving fibers and textiles a bad name now? (July 12, 2018)
• Disruption: An apropos buzzword at AAPN event (June 28, 2018)
• AAPN's Carolina Mill Tour blowing minds (April 12, 2018)
• Super-sized superlatives (February 1, 2018)
• Textile industry is Jim-dandy (January 18, 2018)
• SEAMS poised to build U.S. supply chain bridge (December 6, 2017)
• Endless gratitude (November 22, 2017)
• Allen Gant Jr.: In his own words (October 12, 2017)
• Mark Kent: Another good guy gone too soon (August 25, 2017)
• WIth grace and humility, Chapman made the world a better place for alll (August 29, 2017)
• Time moves, even in textile time (August 2, 2017)
• Technology driving trade show trends (July 12, 2017)
• Let's get ready to RUMMMBLE! (June 7, 2017)
• Themes, talking points from 10 weeks of travel (June 1, 2017)
• Chesnutt: Champion, statesman, friend to all (May 4, 2017)
• To Witt: A big thank you (April 27, 2017)
• Rebranding textiles, one mind at a time (April 5, 2017)
• Thrills on the Hill (March 23, 2017)
• Don't mess with textiles (March 9, 2017)
• Two steps forward, one step back (February 28, 2017)
• The industry spoke, N.C. State listened (February 23, 2017)
• Everybody knows Gabe (February 16, 2017)
• Tantillo still standing tall (February 1, 2017)
• Here's what I'm hearing (January 18, 2017)
• Inside the colorful mind of Alexander Julian (January 4, 2017)
• Kimbrell, Warlick dynamic served Parkdale well (December 15, 2016)
• Vanguard's Wildfire: Sparking a revival? (December 7, 2016)
• A hearty serving of gratitude (November 30, 2016)
• Steve Brown's legacy endures (November 17, 2016)
• Chastain helped lead industry's good fight (November 9, 2016)
• Calendar conflicts cause consternation (October 12, 2016)
• Summer rocked; fall equinox knocks (September 21, 2016)
• Calling all 'texvangelists' (August 31, 2016)
• U.S. textile industry's summertime roar (August 24, 2016)
• Staying front and center as manufacturing resource (August 9, 2016)
• Media 'amazement' (August 4, 2016)
• A phoenix-rising day (July 20, 2016)
• Inman Mills, SCMA helping to build 'workforce of the future (July 12, 2016)
• STA joins fab 500 club (June 23, 2016)
• Spring postscript: Energy, enthusiam, excitement (June 15, 2016)
• What I'm seeing and hearing (May 18, 2016)
• Notes from the road (May 2, 2016)
• What a week for U.S. textiles (April 20, 2016)
• Zooming, zipping and zigzagging (April 6, 2016)
• Bring it on(shore) (March 23, 2016)
• A Bell-ringing experience (March 9, 2016)
• Not your average Joe (February 23, 2016)
• The X(clusive) factor (February 16, 2016)
• Where are they now? (February 10, 2016)
• Being a little better (February 2, 2016)
• A seat at the table (January 27, 2016)
• Mind the skills gap (January 20, 2016
• Hitting the jackpot (January 12, 2016)
• Let's resolve to ... (January 6, 2016)
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Others share remembrances of Joe Okey
Will Motchar
President & CEO
Navis TubeTex
Lexington, N.C.
Joe was truly an example of what makes this a great industry. He was highly respected and well liked by everyone. Even when he was a competitor, I would have said the same about him.
I feel very fortunate to have known and worked with him. I considered him not just a colleague but a friend. A few words I would use to describe Joe are class, integrity, honesty and at the end of the day a good person. We will all miss him. He was a valued member of our family at Navis TubeTex.
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Billy Norris
President, FTA Inc.
Inman, S.C.
Joe Okey was one of the warriors for the American textile industry and invested so much of his time and money into the industry to continue to be able to serve at one time was an industry that had been going offshore. He kept American Monforts going when it probably didn’t make sense financially to do so. [Note: Norris worked with Okey at American Monforts.]
Joe knew everyone and everyone knew Joe. He never met a stranger and I traveled all over the world with him, and he was as well thought of overseas as he was at home. He loves his wife Diane more than any man can humanly love a wife. He was a great dad and would do anything for his kids even after they were grown adults.
Joe served on many boards and textile leadership committees throughout his career and would never say no to anyone who asked him for his time or help.
Joe, who attended N.C. state, was a huge supporter of the Wolfpack and loved to travel and see his team play, whether they were 11-0 or 0-11.
Joe will be sorely missed by our industry, especially by all of us who considered him as family.
This is difficult to write because Joe was so humble he would not want me to say a bunch about how great he was, but he blessed all he came in touch with. He battled cancer, but even then he didn’t want anyone to fuss over him. Joe Okey will be missed and never forgotten in my heart and so many others. He has left a legacy on our industry like few others.
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Harry W. Buzzerd Jr. CAE
Chairman & owner
Association & Society Management International, Inc.
Falls Church, Va.
Joe was most convivial – serious to the situation – but above all he enjoyed life – and enjoyed spreading mirth among others. His goodwill was infectious. He was there when he was needed.
We spent 20 years or more together – the years fade as the good memories blend – from Georgia to New England meeting with American Textile Machinery Association members and recruiting new members, from late ’70s into this century. We traveled Central America and Europe on behalf of ATMA members. He truly toiled years and years on behalf of the association and the industry.
During the open schedule times, Joe was most adroit in arranging a round of golf or a poker game. Well, truthfully, it was not spontaneous – he had the schedule filled before the trip! He was pretty darn skilled at both games and was most gracious in victory, meaning most always. He was a favorite at guest tournaments/card fests at my club and on occasions if I showed up without him I heard a chorus of "Where's Joe?" That’s pretty high acclamation for a fellow who was a rare ambassador of geniality and good cheer.
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David Russell, PE
Director, Stenter business unit
Navis TubeTex
Lexington, N.C.
I knew Joe from ATME since the early 2000s, mainly through Fred Moorhead. He was always very friendly to me, even though we were frequently competing for the same orders. Usually it was between our two companies as to who would be the successful seller. However, I don’t recall ever feeling ill will toward Joe.
I was excited when Will (Motchar, Navis TubeTex president) pitched the idea in 2014 of hiring Joe, which ultimately happened a year later. It would be nice to have another “tenter” person in the building. So from 2015 to late 2017 we worked closely on almost a daily basis.
Joe’s reputation in the industry was incredible. At shows, there was a stream of people stopping by to visit. He wasn’t the Monforts guy – he was Joe. Being in the same business, no matter how hard you tried, you always end up making someone angry. Joe never seemed to.
He could always “get a meeting” with either a president or owner or whoever I asked to see. He knew everyone and they were always happy to hear from and see him.
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Carroll Thomas
President
C.B. Thomas Co. LLC
Greensboro, N.C.
Joe and I go back approximately 50 years. He was my No. 1 friend and we did many things together.
I hired him when I was with Coltron Industries back in the mid ’70s, my first phase of textile machinery. We worked together for several years. With the business conditions the way they were, he and I both left. He went to work with Birch Brothers and I went to work with JM Schloss Associates in Greensboro. I later hired him to work with Schloss Associates. We handled all phases of wet processing equipment and guiding equipment from Japan.
Joe was one of the most efficient marketing guys that I have ever worked with. He eventually took over a very large company from Germany (Monforts) and was very successful.
We traveled together through the East Coast for several years. We worked as a team 24-7 and it was so enjoyable. Never have I found a better friend than Joe Okey.
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Jim Egan
President
Graniteville Specialty Fabrics
Graniteville, S.C.
Our industry has experienced yet another untimely loss. Joe was a trusted business partner for many years and I will sorely miss his friendship.
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John "Jay" White
President
Morrison Textile Machinery Co.
Fort Lawn, S.C.
Joe was one of those positive personalities that reminded you about the great things in our industry. He was a gentleman that we will all miss.
Allen Moore
Owner
RA Moore Associates
Charlotte, N.C.
I met Joe Okey in the late 1970s. Our business and personal relationships grew close in the early ’90s when Joe started American Monforts and my partner Frank Potocnik and I had started RA Moore Associates.
Joe was a wonderful person to have as a friend and as a business partner. Joe was very even keeled and always saw the glass half full and always shared a smile with everyone he encountered.
Joe was a familiar face at RA Moore Associates. He would routinely stop by to review projects or more often to steal, or rather pick up, Brunswick stew I would get from my mother's church in Eden, N.C., and put in the freezer at the office.
Joe opened many doors for RA Moore Associates, for which our associates, my partner Frank Potocnik, and I are eternally grateful.
I will miss Joe – miss hearing him call me “Bubba” or those other two words(!), followed in quick succession by the Joe Okey grin and laugh. I will miss his guidance, his low-key demeanor, his trying to “out-barbecue” me and most of all his friendship.
Our RA Moore Associates’ family, Frank and Lynn Potocnik and Judy and I are comforted by the great memories we shared with Joe: His visits to our office; time spent with our customers; time spent with fellow vendors; trips to association meetings; Joe’s getting stopped for speeding in Mexico with Judy and I in the car wondering if we were going to jail; trips to ITMAs and ATME-I's … the list goes one.
Frank and Lynn, and Judy and I have shared our love and appreciation for Joe with Diane Okey and Joe's family and extend our well wishes to all who were fortunate enough to know Joe and who are grieving with us.
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Klaus A. Heinrichs
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
A. Monforts Textilmaschinen GmbH & Co.
Mönchengladbach, Germany
With deepest regret, we hear dthat the former president of American Monforts Corporation, Mr. Joseph A. Okey passed away after his serious illness.
For more than 30 years, Joe was the successful leader and coordinator for the North American sales & parts business of the German finishing machine manufacturer A. Monforts Textilmaschinen.
With his customer-oriented engagement and with his in-depth technical and technological knowledge, Joe Okey was a most respected partner of his business partners and therefore could add America’s top-ranking textile finishing companies to the Monforts’ reference list.
Apart from his excellent business attitudes Joe was an always-reliable partner and a loyal colleague, having many good friends in Germany.
We will always remember him as an excellent business partner and as a friend.
At the occasion of ITMA 2015 in Milan, Europe Joe handed over his business activities for Monforts to PSP Marketing, where he always was well respected as a counselor.
Our thoughts are with his wife and with his family members he left behind.
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C.G. "Leib" Oehmig IV
President & CEO
Glen Raven, Inc.
Glen Raven, N.C.
I have incredibly fond memories of Joe. He was very patient and gracious with his time when I was new to the industry and Glen Raven was seeking to invest in new finishing technology. Always the professional, Joe made it a priority to ensure his customers had the greatest chance for success.
We stayed in touch over the years, sharing stories and debating the latest outcome of any sports event involving his beloved N.C. State Wolfpack vs. my Clemson Tigers. He will be missed.
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Mike Viniconis
COO & owner
Arosa Systems
Charlotte, N.C.
We lost a legend. Joe was always there to help – he guided me through some difficult times and I will be forever grateful. A calm manner, a laid back approach, and always there to help – that was Joe.
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Fred Moorhead Jr.
Sales manager, Marshall & Williams (retired)
Greenville, S.C.
Joe was a gentleman at all times and a joy to be around. He was very competitive in business, but he was also a friend. I enjoyed working with him on the board of ATMA and through some very tense times with the changing textile landscape in the U.S. He was a really good guy that will be missed by many.
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Charles Poston
Market Manager – Textile Industry
Kluber Lubrication N.A. LP
Jamestown, N.C.
Joe Okey and American Monforts had a long relationship with Kluber Lubrication. At one time, Joe started representing another brand, but we continued to be friends during this short time. Then he called while I was in Germany, apologized as he could tell I was out of the country and figured it was in the middle of the night, which it was. He asked me to visit upon my return.
We started doing business together again and continued until he sold the business. I, along with Glenn Boyle and Bill Watson of Kluber Lubrication, had many laughs with Joe. We talked a little about business situations and a lot about N.C. State sports. I am still not sure which Joe liked talking about most. Joe will be missed. He always had that smile and good humor about him, which I will always remember. God bless.
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Jack Woodson
Director of Operations
Anderson Plant, Glen Raven, Inc.
Anderson, S.C.
I will remember Joe as a very warm and likable person. From our first meeting, I felt like he was someone I had known for years. He engaged me as a young person just starting out in the industry as if I had been around forever. It became clear to me in later interactions that this was not a contrived sales approach, but his genuine approach to people.
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Randy Blackston
Vice president, Operations
Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC
Anderson, S.C.
Over the last 20 years, I had the opportunity to work with Joe on many capital projects and enjoyed many hours of great fellowship. The textile industry has lost tons of knowledge and mountains of experience … Joe will be missed.