In memory of Jon Logue
From Ron Dunn 
 

I met Jon 36 years ago at Mohawk. David Kolb was CEO.  Dave, Don Mercer, and Jon were at Dow/Allied Chemical in the 70’s.  Dave advanced to CEO of Mohawk Ind, while Don Mercer and Jon went on to executive management with Salem Carpet. David had now hired Don and then Jon to help position Mohawk to acquire other mills. 
 
I was a divisional manager in the Upper Midwest. Jon was instructed to promote from within and pick one of the DMs for VP of Sales. Jon chose me. 
 
We had a challenging but invigorating 8-year run, building sales teams and improving marketing while helping assimilate the acquisitions of Horizon, Karastan, American Rug and Galaxy.
 
We resurrected the Color Center Program and launched annual national conferences in Myrtle Beach, S.C. that included mill tours.
 
We adopted phrases like:
 

• The smartest person in the room is the cumulative IQ – so tap into it!
• God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth, use them proportionately and check your percentages!
• In the land of the blind, the one eye man is king.... so, lead with your one good eye!
• There is an invisible sign that reads the same and hangs around everyone’s neck.  If you answer that sign, you will have success. The sign reads: ‘Make me feel important’
• Do the right thing ...and let come what may
• Eyes are made to look out not in, don’t misuse them!
• Dress for success... you are never fully dressed without a smile!

 
The final merger was with Aladdin and for the first time, we had given up majority interest to bring these two great companies together.  We both stayed on for a year, but it was time for our next venture.
 
Jon started an internet subscription company just as everyone was figuring out what the internet was.  I paused and then one amazing night the entire framework for launching CarpetsPlus of America as a dealer menu resource and buying group came to me faster than I could write.
 
 I needed a partner and this time I chose Jon. Why?  It was clear.  During those fast-moving years in the industry shark tank, Jon stood out as a man of great experience, respect, integrity, can-do attitude, and strong work ethic.  In that era, he was a rare man of character who was willing to make the right decision ...because it was the right decision regardless of what that might mean to him.  In a highly competitive industry, I believed I could trust Jon with my wallet and my wife.
 
 During our 25th Anniversary gathering I shared with several members that of the 100’s of relationships and people in the room, when Jon walked in, I felt something different.  Likely it is because of the 1,000’s of conversations, strategies, decisions, sacrifices and celebrations we had together, first at Mohawk and then through launching and building support for an amazing network of incredible retailers.
 
Stability is one of the marks of a great leader. Whether it was the lean years of our launch, the successful years of our growth, the scary years of the housing recession, the confusing years of a national pandemic or the quiet years layered between, Jon was the same.  Levelheaded, conservative yet visionary, always ready to help someone and always showing his incredibly big heart.
 
As our team expanded, one of the things we weighed out was whether to bring our sons into this growing business. In our early careers nepotism was frowned on. Another mold that needed breaking. Just 2 months ago Jon commented at our Board meeting that our decisions to give our sons the opportunities to utilize their giftings and add value to this exciting journey is the best decision we ever made. What a tremendous blessing it was for us to pass the baton to them!

Kevin called us Sunday to give us an update on Jon’s suddenly changing health.  Sandy and I were planning to visit him and Nancy on Monday morning.  I sat on my porch Sunday night until 2AM reminiscing.  This great journey we have been on seemed to go slow when we were in it, but suddenly fast and surreal at the end. It’s been filled with amazing people and relationships. Some of the toughest times were actually the best of times because that’s when the character showed.
I have happy tears tonight. I’ve been blessed to have Jon in my life.  Everyone inside his circle saw a man with a big heart.

My last call with Jon ended with him telling me he loved me and appreciated our partnership. If you know Jon, that was not his normal way of communicating through the years. Let me encourage you to take Jon’s lead and tell someone you love them and appreciate them. You know who that is.
 
We are already missing you, Jon.  Thank you for leaving a whole lot of great memories.
 
~Ron