President’s Award

>>> Wednesday, June 8 | 8:30 am -9:45 am

Joe Downes, a long-time key sales executive for Leggett & Platt, was chosen as the winner of the WAI’s President’s Award. The photo of Downes—a WAI Life Member who retired as senior vice president in 2015—is from a presentation he made in 2009 to the WAI Ohio Valley Chapter.

“During his more than 45 years in the steel wire industry, Joe was an amazing person on many levels,” said WAI President Jim York, who chose Downes for the 2022 award. “I saw his ethics and work style firsthand. I count myself fortunate to have been mentored by him for almost 15 years.” He cited Downes’s work ethic and dedication to customers and colleagues as well as his support to the wire industry.

Downes entered the wire industry in 1976 in a sales position with Container Wire Company, a small wire producer based in Jacksonville, Florida. Two years later, it was bought by L&P, where he worked until his retirement. Over the years, he was a road warrior of the first degree, his Delta Airlines account topping three million miles, and more than a million more on other carriers. He thrived on interaction with customers, suppliers and employees, yet found time to support the Association as well as the American Wire Producers Association.

In a December 2015 WJI article, the WAI Life Member wrote about his career, sharing his thoughts on the field. “Do not expect much in the way of glamour, and don’t expect that many of your friends will either understand what you do or care to hear you talk about it. Expect that there will be bumps in the road, although that goes for any field. ... I can tell you that if you are willing to learn and don’t need glitz, you can enjoy this business. It might not be sexy, but it’s real, and what we do matters. Many of my best friends are co-workers, customers and vendors and I will miss the daily interaction with them. I’d like to think they feel the same way.”

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