Thursday December 7th, 2017
The MFDA is very excited to be introducing its Hall of Fame Class of 2017. Our three Honorees tonight represent 127 years in the Fastener Industry, with much of that time also spent serving the MFDA. Along with their award this evening, the three will be included in the Hall of Fame page on the MFDA website, and will have the 2018 MFDA Hall of Fame Scholarship awarded in their honor. The three join the inaugural class of 2016 members, Sidney Cohen, Roger Stillman, Ron Jones and Leslie Seiper.
William “Bill” Fivehouse (Star Stainless Screw Corp)
Bill started at Star Stainless Screw Corp in the summer of 1976 at the age of 16, when a friend got him a job as a temp worker in the warehouse. Over the next 41 years, Bill has moved up the ladder at Star- warehouse foreman, salesman, distribution manager, NJ branch manager and finally Operations Manager. Bill said of his job “One of my greatest joys is helping new employees find their way in our industry, and helping them grow into the next group of industry leaders.”. When he isn’t working, Bill enjoys travelling with his wife Michelle, and cherishes the time he has with his family, especially with his 2 grandchildren.
Doug Thonus (Fastar Inc)
After an active duty tour in the Army, Doug entered the fastener industry in 1967 at the Atlantic Spring Pin Company. Stops along the way with Rexnord, United Products, Anderton-United, and Precise Products led him to begin his own company, Fastar Inc 1998. Doug strongly believes in supporting fastener and community organizations. He served two terms as MFDA Vice-President and two terms on the board of directors. Doug initiated the MFDA Toys for Tots dinner event, which he chaired for 15 years. Doug was also the MFDA’s unofficial historian. Doug is a member of the ASME B18 committee on pins and is a past member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. Doug told us he is honored to be inducted into the Hall and is looking forward to continuing his fastener career as a Hall of Fame member.
Chuck Halpin (Brighton-Best International)
Chuck started at Brighton in 1981 as a part time worker in the warehouse so he could help pay for college. After school he stayed with Brighton where he moved into Sales and within a year was the Carlstadt NJ branch manager. It was there that he first became involved with the MFDA, attending meetings at the Lowes Hotel in Teaneck, where he said “we all wore suits and ties, and the affairs were prestigious”. Years later when a promotion to regional manager moved Chuck to the Philadelphia area, he helped found the Mid-Atlantic Fastener Distributors Association and based it on what he learned here with the MFDA. Chuck served as a board member and officer of the MFDA for over twenty years with three different terms as President. Chuck is currently an active member in the NFDA, is on the board of the Fastener Industry Coalition, and remains on the board of the MAFDA. He told the committee “my roots will always be with the Metropolitan Association. It was the MFDA that guided me from beginner to industry professional while instilling goals to advance our business and our people.”
