Mr. October.

Safety, quality and perseverance.

These are all words that come to mind in describing Keystone Wood Specialties' President Sam Stoltzfus, this year's Jerry Metz Achievement Award winner. The article on our 4th annual awardee begins on page 44.

The Metz Award is named after former Wood & Wood Products columnist Jerry Metz, who, in his 30-plus years as a writer and consultant, repeatedly touched upon four cornerstones for a successful company: safety, training, quality and productivity. Stoltzfus, like previous winners Joseph Cannon Jr., president of CAS America, Paul Wellborn, president and CEO of Wellborn Cabinet, and Bob Gronlund, chairman and CEO of Wood-Mode, has helped his company to embody these traits.

What ties these men together is also their unwavering commitment to service--to employees, customers and to their communities. Instead of focusing on "what's in it for me and my company," they have spent years devoting their efforts to helping others.

Back in October 2003, we wrote how Cannon, in addition to promoting education within his own plant--and enabling CAS employees to earn their Associates Degrees--helped organize the Rhode Island Woodworking Collaborative. He also served as a member of the Rhode Island Manufacturing Extension Service.

One year later, we publicized Wellborn's support of the community, including contributions to charities benefitting abandoned and abused children. Under Wellborn's direction, each year, approximately 10 percent of the company's net profit is donated to local causes such as the Big Oak Ranch for Boys and Girls. Closer to home, Wellborn organized a company-subsidized daycare center across from the plant to assist employees in their childcare needs.

The October 2005 Metz Award issue told of how, under Gronlund's leadership, Wood-Mode made available scholarships to area colleges, and contributes thousands of dollars to charities. Gronlund himself is also very active in the community, volunteering his time and effort to organizations including: the Susquehanna University Board of Directors, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Business Council, Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board, Evangelical Community Hospital Board of Directors, Capital Blue Cross Board of Directors and Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

Like his predecessors, this year's "Mr. October" is also service oriented. Despite his battle with muscular dystrophy, Stoltzfus is very involved in his church, social action groups and industry organizations. In addition to his work with the Muscular Dystrophy Assn. and United Cerebral Palsy, Stoltzfus served six years on the board of the Lancaster County Children and Youth Social Service Agency, which oversees abused children and foster care. He also is a member of the Lancaster Christian School Board of Directors. At his church, he served on the Church Deacon Board and was a missions committee chairman and Sunday School teacher.

It is my honor to salute Sam Stoltzfus, as well as the previous "Mr. Octobers" for all that they've accomplished. They're a proud tribute, not only to their companies, but to their communities.

WORLD SERIES TRIVIA

In honor of another Mr. October, Reggie Jackson, here is an opportunity to test your knowledge with some World Series trivia.

1. What year was the first World Series played?

2. Who set a record by pitching in seven games of the 1973 World Series?

3. Who was the first president to throw out the first ball in a World Series game?

4. What National League team refused to play the Boston Americans in 1904, causing the World Series to be cancelled?

5. The World Series was cancelled one other time. When was it and why?

6. Which clutch performer hit seven home runs in the post season, including four game-winning hits?

7. In what year did an earthquake postpone Game 3 of the World Series?

8. What pitcher not only won Game 7, but hit a home run in the same game?

9. Which Hall of Fame player has hit 18 home runs in World Series play?

10. What team has been waiting the longest since last winning a World Series?

11. What team holds the record for the second longest drought?

12. What player hit five home runs in the 1977 World Series, including three in Game 6?

Answers:

1: 1903 2: Darold Knowles 3: Woodrow Wilson 4: New York Giants 5: 1994, due to a strike 6: Kirk Gibson 7:1989 8: Bob Gibson 9: Mickey Mantle 10: Chicago Cubs [98 years and counting) 11: Chicago White Sox (88 years, won in 2005) 12: Reggie Jackson

Sources: baseballhalloffame.org, MLB.com/whitesox, quizland.com, usefultrivia.com