The late George Cartledge Sr., former chairman of Grand Piano and Furniture Co. in Roanoke, was inducted into the American Furniture Hall of Fame last month, an honor that will literally cement his status as an industry luminary.

The accolade comes with a plaque on the industry's Walk of Fame, a stretch of Main Street near the High Point, N.C., furniture markets.

His name now joins the ranks of other regional furniture-makers on the walk, including Clyde Hooker Jr., of Hooker Furniture in Martinsville, and the late J.D. Bassett, founder of Bassett Furniture Industry in Henry County.

All Hall of Fame members must first be nominated and then voted in by the organization.

His son, George Cartledge Jr., the current CEO of the company, which changed its name to Grand Home Furnishings, said the family was "real tickled" by their father's honor, and a bit surprised.

"My dad was never a joiner," the younger Cartledge said. "He pretty much spent all his time worrying about his customers and the stores."

The elder Cartledge died in 1997 at age 87, but some business practices -- such as handing every customer a free Coke -- continue at the company's 17 locations.

A Georgia native, Cartledge Sr. started his career in the 1930s in the Atlanta furniture market, where he was a salesman and later a partner in a wholesale company.

He arrived in Roanoke in 1945 and bought Grand Piano and Furniture Co. with two partners. In 1950, Cartledge Sr. became the sole owner of the furniture chain, which at one point included 23 stores in 16 cities.

Cartledge Sr. also made various contributions to Roanoke's development, including helping to found Center in the Square and a plan called "Design '79," which brought retail business and improvements to downtown. In 1984, he was named Roanoke's Citizen of the Year.

"He's quite a success story," said Clyde Hooker Jr., 86, chairman emeritus of Hooker Furniture. "He was a stickler for paying his bills and staying ahead of the financial side. I think he developed quite a trade over the years."