He has spent many a day in Washington, D.C., and his state’s capital city, Raleigh, letting lawmakers and anyone who will listen know that textiles and manufacturing matter in this country. And his efforts have made a big difference to our current fortunes.

Thanks to leaders such as Chesnutt, we’ve been able to fight a muddy, uphill battle against colossal forces for two decades and finally (finally!) have reached a point where we, as an industry, have caught our breath – and have put ourselves in a position to make textiles great again. Different, but great.

Chesnutt, and many others, is why I love this industry so much, a sentiment many of you certainly share. I don’t think any other industry can hold a candle to the camaraderie, connectedness and collaborative spirit of U.S. textiles. The people, of course, make us tick – and make some of you (like Chesnutt) stick around well beyond retirement age.

I certainly was thrilled to hear Chesnutt present to the Southern Textile Association last month during its Spring Meeting at N.C. State’s College of Textiles. His perspective on how we got here was enlightening, and I believe everyone left the room with a positive feeling about where we’re headed.

“I believe when this economy begins to improve, you’re going to see us return to that growth mode after coming through a 2016 that didn’t make everyone as happy as we would’ve liked,” he told more than 90 attendees. “I don’t think it will be something that will explode, but I believe we’re going to be around a long time and will assist a lot of people finding opportunities in the textile industry.”

People. That's what it's really all about, isn't it?

Such optimism is attributable in some part to Chesnutt’s efforts in making those who held our fortunes in their hands listen.

I can’t imagine a U.S. textile industry without Chesnutt, whenever that day comes. In 2014 in his office, I asked Chesnutt about his future plans. He told me: “Who knows how long ol’ Jim might be around. I’m approaching 73 but I have fun every day. I had an agreement with our former chairman that I would be around until I had five days in a row that I didn’t want to come to work. Or if my health got to a point where I couldn’t give the company a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay. Or the first morning that I couldn’t find the office – then I’d probably go home and stay.”

In his closing remarks at the recent STA meeting, he broached the subject again.

“Personally, it’s very difficult to think about leaving my friends,” Chesnutt said. “But when you get to be on the cusp of 76 years old, at some point you have to begin to think about that.

“My ticket out is sitting on the second row,” he continued, referring to another Jim – National Spinning President Jim Booterbaugh – the company’s handpicked next CEO. “And one day, he’s going to punch my ticket. But at some point, if you will allow me, I’m going to come back to meetings like this so I can get a good lunch with friends.”

For selfish reasons, I’m hoping lunch with a retired Jim Chesnutt is a long way off.