Thanks for everything, Jerry.

For more than three decades Wood & Wood Products' readers looked to Jerry Metz to explain why their veneers checked, finishes faded or glue joints failed. They spilled their guts out to Jerry after being overlooked for a promotion or sought his advice to resolve a bitter conflict among employees.

For 32 years, Jerry gladly obliged. He fielded literally thousands of letters and calls from readers. Many readers sent Jerry samples of their defective doors, plywood panels, and chair parts for his expert inspection. Unfailingly, Jerry would diagnose a problem and propose a remedy. Writers who furnished a self-addressed, stamped envelope received prompt personal replies.

Annotated versions of a cross-section of these correspondences were the fodder for the immensely popular Q&A column, "Consult Jerry Metz." Each month W&WP readers could learn from the mistakes of their peers, whose identities were protected from the potential ridicule of supervisors and competitors by virtue of only printing the initial of their last name.

Ironically, even as the woodworking industry became more and more high-tech, Jerry's column provided us all with a reality check, that failures to respect the unique properties of wood as a material--particularly in respect to moisture content--would ultimately lead to one or more types of product failures.

Over and over, like a broken record, Jerry reminded readers of what he considered to be the two most important tenants of woodworking: safety first and quality is job one. He also was a strong advocate of partnering with suppliers, investing in new technology and doing what you do best instead of trying to be all things for everybody.

The 'Voice of Experience'

In doling out advice, Jerry merely preached what he practiced. His was the voice of experience built on the solid foundation of a 40-year wood working career.

Over the past six months, W&WP has reprinted articles relating to Jerry's numerous achievements as a woodworker and owner of J.L. Metz Furniture of Hammond, IN. A timeline that begins on page 25 of this issue highlights some of Jerry's career mile stones.

While Jerry had good reason to take pride in the quality of the dining and bedroom furniture his company made, he was especially proud of the phenomenal safety record his company amassed. For more than a dozen consecutive years Metz Furniture, which employed 300 people at its zenith, received the annual safety award from the National Association of Furniture Manufacturers.

In a 1957 interview with W&WP, Jerry noted, "We make no bones about the tact that a safe plant costs money, time and constant plugging, but it certainly pays off in both direct and redirect profits."

The End of an Era

After more than 70 year's as a furniture maker and consultant, the iron man of the woodworking industry is retiring. I feel extremely fortunate to have been revolved in 17 of them.

Thank you, Jerry. You have taught me more about work ethic than any other has.

FIRST NOTICE

The Jerry Metz Award

We can think of no better lasting tribute to Jerry Metz's numerous contributions to the woodworking industry than to inaugurate an annual award pro gram bearing his name. Thus, it is a great pleasure to announce that in November 2003, Wood & Wood Products will honor a professional woodworker whose career embodies Jerry's commitment to safety, quality and productivity with the first Jerry Metz Achievement Award.

The recipient of the Metz Award will be required to meet the following criteria:

* Have a minimum 10 years of professional woodworking experience.

* Be an owner or supervisor of a plant employing at least 20 people.

* Have made significant contributions to his company's safety, quality and productivity programs.

Additional information about this new award program will be forthcoming. In the meantime, I invite you to contact me with the name of an individual you believe merits consideration for this prestigious honor. I can be reached at [e-mail].