[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 149 (Wednesday, October 3, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2056]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE LIFE OF ALFRED J. AUDI

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES T. WALSH

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 3, 2007

  Mr. WALSH of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life 
of Stickley furniture maker Alfred J. Audi.
  Mr. Audi passed away peacefully on September 29, surrounded by his 
loving family. Together with his wife and partner Aminy, Alfred Audi 
presided over the L. & J.G. Stickley Furniture company, founded in 1900 
and inspired by the American Arts and Crafts pioneer Gustav Stickley of 
Syracuse, New York.
  After graduating from Moses Brown School and Colgate University, Mr. 
Audi served three years in New York City's 42nd Infantry Division while 
working as president of E.J. Audi, Inc., a successful New York City 
furniture retailer founded by his family in 1928. In 1974, Alfred and 
his wife Aminy purchased the fledgling Stickley Furniture in 
Fayetteville, New York at the urging of Leopold Stickley's widow Louise 
who feared the company's commitment to quality and strong design would 
be lost without Audi's leadership at the helm.
  Over the next 33 years, Alfred and Aminy together grew Stickley from 
a company close to extinction with a 22 person workforce in a small, 
outdated factory to a 1600 employee manufacturing and sales operation 
and furniture design leader with three factories in Manlius, New York, 
North Carolina, and Vietnam. In addition, Stickley boasts of 13 retail 
showrooms in five States and a network of 125 dealers across the globe.
  In nurturing Stickley back to health, Alfred reintroduced Stickley's 
signature Mission style furniture to the market and greatly influenced 
current arts and crafts trends in home and furniture design. Besides 
their work with Stickley, Alfred and Aminy have resurrected three other 
furniture companies on the verge of collapse in Pennsylvania, Michigan, 
and North Carolina.
  In addition to his success in the business world, Alfred Audi 
exhibited tremendous athletic accomplishment on the bowling alley, 
squash and racquetball court, as well as the golf course. In 2004, 
Alfred won the New York State Super Senior Golf Championship. Mr. Audi 
also leaves a legacy of community involvement and philanthropy, having 
been a member of numerous boards and commissions.
  Alfred Audi is survived by his loving wife of 43 years Aminy, son 
Edward, daughters Carolyn and Andrea, son-in-law Michael, three 
grandchildren, and 1600 proud members of the Stickley family. Even 
today, the company Alfred and Aminy resurrected remains a dedicated 
family-run operation.
  For his contributions to business, the furniture industry, and the 
greater Central New York community, I honor my dear friend and 
supporter Alfred J. Audi for a lifetime of accomplishment. Al Audi's 
success proves that you can be successful in business in Upstate New 
York while passionately committed to a quality product, your employees 
and their families.

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