“Polyester was just coming on the scene,” said Witt, 75. “Converters prior to that had been twisting and treating products that were chemically easier to handle. So if they started twisting polyester, they started having broken filaments and problems treating polyester. And the problems were common. Firestone would have a problem and Uniroyal would have the same problem. So they decided to get together and talk about those problems and see if they could work out some mutual solutions. The organization was really set up for the workshops more so than papers.”

After graduating from Clemson University in 1963, Witt began his career at an American Viscose rayon plant, then started up a polyester plant in Pennsylvania. He then moved to Winnsboro, S.C., his home still, to work for Uniroyal, where he spent the most of his career.

Early ISYM members first met in Charlotte, then Savannah, then Nashville, Witt said. But they soon settled on a spring/fall rotation between Atlanta and Charlotte, a practice that remains to this day.

“That made the most sense because that’s where most of the converters were, in the Carolinas and Georgia,” Witt said. “And it was much smaller then. You’re talking four or five converters with three or four people from each converter.”

Soon, the society realized it needed to expand its membership in order to find solutions to some problems, Witt said, so it invited fiber suppliers such as DuPont and Celanese to join. Gradually, it began to add chemical and other suppliers to reach a strength-in-numbers coalition with common goals, and would later change its name, he added.

Witt, of course, has seen many changes in the tire cord sector and the ISIFM over the years, but two stand out, he said.

“There have been two big changes since we started,” said Witt, who served as president of the group in 1982-84. “In the early days, we were exporting tire fabric – today, it’s the other way around, in large part. And 43 years ago, if you looked around the room, there were no women. That’s changed – and that’s a plus.”

The ISIFM, in fact, is poised to elect its fourth female president next year, as Alexandra Diehl serves as its current vice president. And speaking of which, Witt said the best decision he made regarding the organization involves the female persuasion.

“My biggest accomplishment with this organization was bringing in Sandy,” Witt said.

He was referring to Sandy Saye, who worked with Witt and has served as secretary-treasurer of the ISIFM for more than 30 years. (Saye is now with Southern Weaving in Greenville, S.C.)

Witt called the ISIFM a fraternity of likeminded members of a small but thriving segment of the industry, and getting together twice a year is like “old home week.”

“Other than maybe the economic speech, the best thing about our meetings is the networking opportunities and renewing long relationships,” Witt said.

Something of which I took full advantage when I spotted Witt, to whom we all owe a debt of gratitude. Thanks, Leon, for your many contributions to our industry – and keep on keeping on.