Munro inducted into shoe retailers Hall of Fame

TUCSON, Ariz. — Don Munro was posthumously inducted into the Countrywide Shoe Merchants Affiliation Corridor of Fame for the duration of the NSRA’s Management Convention held Nov. 9-10.

Ed Habre, the organization’s earlier chairman and Corridor of Fame Committee chair, introduced the 2022 two-member class as “NSRA’s maximum honor and recognition of people today for their many years of determination, leadership and superb company that have contributed to the footwear neighborhood and to NSRA.” Tom Luck, CEO of Lucky Footwear in Fairlawn, Ohio, was the other honoree at the ceremony.

Munro, who proven Lake Catherine Footwear in 1959 as a division of Connors & Hoffman Footwear, launched Munro & Organization Inc. in 1975. Munro created a specialized niche in the shoe sector as a guy regarded for persistence and enterprise insight, and he grew his business into the country’s greatest privately-held shoe manufacturer, a information release saying the induction claimed.

The organization, which was recognized for top quality, match, comfort, measurements and widths, also designed designs for popular labels ahead of relocating into the “brand name” business enterprise in the 1980s. In spite of the shift, the enterprise ongoing to uphold its motivation to comfort and ease and excellent, it mentioned.

Elected president of the American Apparel and Footwear Affiliation in 2003, Munro was inducted into Footwear News’ Corridor of Fame in 2004 and the Arkansas Enterprise Corridor of Fame in 2005. He was also honored with a star on the Arkansas Walk of Fame on Aug. 14, 2021, which was also proclaimed “Don Munro Day” by Incredibly hot Springs Mayor Pat McCabe.

Munro was also recognised for his philanthropy he led Two Ten Basis from 1989-98, Arkansas Local community Basis from 1974-2002, Arkansas Arts Center from 1982-88, Business Company for the Delta from 1995-2004, and many extra, making the Munro Foundation to aid initiatives these types of as the arts, health care services, colleges, nonprofits, churches, and kid’s advocacy groups, the launch stated.

He also been given the T. Kenyon Holly Award in 1985 and was the initial recipient of the American Philanthropy Award in 1992. He died on April 27 at the age of 94.

Previous Chairman Rick Ravel carried out the induction, expressing he was honored and happy to be questioned to do the induction.

Munro’s son, Bruce, recognized the award on behalf of the loved ones.

“We take pleasure in the invitation to be here and we are all incredibly happy that you are honoring Don with this induction into the NSRA Corridor of Fame,” he said at the ceremony, according to the release. “For Don there was no higher recognition than to be bestowed by individuals people who understood you greatest. Fellow shoe folks who appreciate the benefit of men and women you surround by yourself with — that is what Don Munro was all about. He liked individuals. They recognized it and cherished him again. He experimented with to present the ultimate respect to the folks he labored with and for all those who worked for him by recognizing them all on a initial-name foundation. He would be pretty happy to know that he was section of the National Shoe Retailers Association’s Corridor of Fame.”